The 11th Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium: Civility & Civic Leadership in the Circle City

The 11th Annual Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium
Civility & Civic Leadership in the Circle City
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
University of Indianapolis | Schwitzer Student Center, UIndy Hall

To register, visit: bit.ly/Fairbanks2026

For UIndy Students, this event is LP credit approved.

The University of Indianapolis and Indiana Humanities invites you to the 2026 Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium with a focus on Civility and Civic Leadership in the Circle City.

Building off the last decade of Fairbanks experiences, the 2026 symposium focuses on the ways in which civility can help create conversations, foster community, and enable civic leaders to find new approaches to challenging problems.

The Fairbanks Symposium, which began in 2013, brings together local and national leaders to discuss and analyze vital issues facing our communities, linking the historical legacy of past leaders to current and future trends. Previous keynotes have included Senator Richard Lugar and then-South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Event Details:

9:30 AM | Registration and Networking

10 AM | Opening Remarks

• Dr. Tanuja Singh, President, University of Indianapolis
• Dr. Edward Frantz, Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, University of Indianapolis

10:15 AM | Civility in Theory & History

• Dr. Alex Richardson, Associate of Content Strategy and Engagement, Prindle Institute for Ethics, DePauw University
• Dr. Deborah Mower, Director of the Center for Practical Ethics, University of Mississippi

11:30 AM Lunch

Noon | Keynote: INconversation – A Civic Renaissance in Indianapolis

Moderator:

• Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, Professor of Political Science, University of Indianapolis

Panelists: 

• Jeff Worrell, Carmel City Councilman, and Founder & CEO of the Carmel Civility Foundation, Inc.
• Alexandra Hudson, Author of The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves, and Founder of Civic Renaissance

1:30 PM | Panel 2: Indiana’s New Civic Health Index and Implications for the Future 

• Dr. Ellen Szarleta, J.D. Director, Center for Urban and Regional Excellence, Indiana University Northwest

2:30 PM | Closing Remarks

• Dr. Edward Frantz, Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, University of Indianapolis

About the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation
The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is an independent, private foundation whose mission is to advance the vitality of Indianapolis and the well-being of its people. The Foundation has awarded more than $300 million in grants since its inception in 1986 and currently focuses its work in three areas: education, health, and the vitality of Indianapolis. Learn more at RMFF.org.

About Indiana Humanities
Indiana Humanities sparks curiosity, connects people, and explores the human experience through programs, grants, and storytelling. Learn more at indianahumanities.org. Social Media: @INHumanities

About the University of Indianapolis’ Institute for Civic Leadership & Mayoral Archives
UIndy’s Institute for Civic Leadership & Mayoral Archives uniquely blends past, present, and future. Founded in 2011, the institute houses the archives of innovative mayors Richard Lugar, William Hudnut III, Stephen Goldsmith, Bart Peterson, and Greg Ballard, and is also a hub for conversations about vital issues in civic life. Learn more at uindy.edu/mayoral. X – @UIndy

The Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium on Civic Leadership is hosted by the University of Indianapolis’ Institute for Civic Leadership & Mayoral Archives, in partnership with Indiana Humanities. It is made possible through the generous support of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation.