Bellarmine University is honored to welcome presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham as the featured speaker for the 2026 Wyatt Lecture Series, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. in Frazier Hall at Bellarmine University.

One of America’s most respected public intellectuals, Meacham is widely known for his ability to bring history to life and provide a thoughtful perspective on the political, cultural, and moral challenges shaping the nation today. A frequent commentator on national news outlets such as MS NOW and CNN, Meacham has spent decades helping audiences better understand the American story. His work examines the intersection of politics, faith, leadership, and democracy, offering historical insight that sheds light on current events and the enduring ideals that shape the United States.

Meacham is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including The Soul of America, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, and Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George H.W. Bush. His book, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, earned the Pulitzer Prize, and his most recent works continue to explore the leaders and moments that define American democracy.

Created and endowed in 1990 by former Louisville Mayor and Lt. Gov. Wilson W. Wyatt and his wife, Anne D. Wyatt, the Wyatt Lecture Series brings to campus individuals of national or international prominence who have distinguished themselves in government or public service or who have been important observers and analysts of public affairs and government. During their visit to Bellarmine, Wyatt Lecturers deliver a public address and preside over smaller gatherings for students.