The Jesse Helms Center is pleased to present their lecture events in two different series.  Each is geared for a specific purpose. To learn more about the lecture events of the Helms Center, click the respective series below:

The Jesse Helms Lecture Series

The BB&T Lecture Series

Jesse Helms Lecture Series

The Jesse Helms Center Lecture Series provides a unique opportunity for students and citizens to enrich their understanding and appreciation of the world. International leaders in areas of business, human rights, religion and government provide commentary on world events and the challenges of today’s global society.

Watch Past Lectures

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio

"America's Role in the World Today" on September 13, 2011

WATCH THE LECTURE

U.S. Senator Mike Lee's address

"Why the U.S. Should Not Accede to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea " on September 15, 2011

WATCH THE LECTURE

U.N. Ambassador John Bolton

"America's Role in the World Today"

WATCH THE LECTURE

Past Lecture Series speakers include:

• Lady Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister

• General Henry Hugh Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

• Dr. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor

• T. Boone Pickens, Legendary Energy Entrepreneur     

• Dr. Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize Winner

• Dr. William Frist, U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader

• Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice

• Malcolm S. Forbes, Jr., President and CEO of Forbes, Inc.

• Fred Barnes, Executive Editor "The Weekly Standard"                  

• John Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations                         

• Dr. Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State

• Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

• Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate

• Dr. William Bennett, former Secretary of Education

• Jack Valenti, CEO of the Motion Picture Association

• J.C. Watts, U.S. Congressman

• Robert Novak, Conservative Political Commentator

• Reverend Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

• The Dalai Lama, Exiled Leader of Tibet

• Harry Wu, Human Rights Activist

• Dr. Jeanne Kirkpatrick, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

BB&T Lecture Series

In conjunction with Wingate University, the Jesse Helms Center is pleased to present the BB&T Program on the Moral Foundations of Free Enterprise, made possible by a generous grant from the BB&T Corporation.  As part of the program, the Helms Center offers the BB&T Lecture Series, a unique opportunity for Wingate University students and the general public to hear from experts and decision makers on pressing economic issues of today.

The BB&T Lecture Series welcomes

Dr. Robert Lawson

"Economic Freedom and the Wealth and Health of Nations"

November 16, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Plyler-Griffin Recital Hall at Wingate University

As part of the BB&T Program on the Moral Foundations of Capitalism, the Jesse Helms Center welcomes Dr. Robert Lawson for a lecture entitled "Economic Freedom and the Wealth and Health of Nations" on November 16, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Plyler-Griffin Recital Hall on the campus of Wingate University.  Tickets are not required and this event is free and open to the public.  Please RSVP for this event by calling (704) 233-1776, ext 8 or by registering online.

Dr. Lawson holds the Jerome M. Fullinwider Chair in Economic Freedom in the O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at the SMU Cox School of Business. From 2008-2011, he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Finance and Director of the Economic Freedom Initiative at Auburn University. From 1996-2008 he taught at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he held the George H. Moor Chair. He is the co-author of the widely-cited Economic Freedom of the World annual report which provides an economic freedom index for over 140 countries. Dr. Lawson’s writings have appeared in professional publications and journals such as Public Choice, Cato Journal, Kyklos, Journal of Labor Research, Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics, and European Journal of Political Economy among others.

He earned a B.S. in economics from the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in economics from Florida State University.

Pictured are Helms Center President John Dodd, Chairman of BB&T John A. Allison, IV,

and President of Wingate University Dr. Jerry McGee (left to right) at the March 19, 2009 lecture

where Allison was the featured speaker.

Past Speakers include

• John A. Allison, IV, Chairman of BB&T Corporation - Spring 2009 Lecture

  LECTURE TITLE: "Principled Leadership"

• Stephen Moore, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Member and Economist - Fall 2009 Lecture

  LECTURE TITLE: "Regaining Prosperity"

• Dr. Paul Bonicelli, Provost at Houston Baptist University - Spring 2010 Lecture

  LECTURE TITLE: "Democracy is Development: Why Free Societies and Free Markets are the Keys to Sustainable   

                                  Growth"

• John Hawkins, Ethics and Leadership Consultant & President of Leadership Edge, Inc. - Fall 2010 Lecture

  LECTURE TITLE: "Ethical Leadership: Why Doing the Right Thing is not Enough"

• Dr. Dan Hammond, Hultquist Family Professor at Wake Forest University - Spring 2011 Lecture  

  LECTURE TITLE: "Milton Friedman and the Federal Reserve: Then and Now"

Spring 2009 BB&T Lecture by John A. Allison, IV

"Principled Leadership"
Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

George A. Batte Fine Arts Center -- Wingate University

One of our nation's premier advocates of free markets and liberty, John Allison is the former CEO and current Chairman of BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust).  Under Allison's leadership, BB&T has grown into a major banking company - operating in 11 states with over 1,500 banking offices.  He is one of corporate America's most articulate proponents of freedom - a leader whose record of integrity and courage qualifies him to address the challenging issues facing our nation.

Fall 2007 Lecture Series Event with Fred Barnes

Press Release

Fred Barnes to Speak at Founders Day Celebration

About Fred Barnes

Be notified of future lectures

Past Speakers

Audio Transcript WMA 59 MB

Press Coverage

T. Boone Pickens Set To Give Helms Lecture

'80s takeover guru keeps his eyes on energy

Helms Center Foundation eyes ambitious expansion

T. Boone Pickens tells what it takes to be M&A master

To Learn More About T. Boone Pickens visit www.boonepickens.com

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