Wittenberg is pleased to host a new collaborative series titled “Conversations with the President,” with the first hour-long conversation set for Tuesday Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Chakeres Memorial Theatre, 905 Woodlawn Ave., on the University’s campus. At that time, Wittenberg President Christian M. M. Brady, DPhil (Oxon.), will welcome retired Vice Admiral Phil Wisecup for a discussion on the value of the liberal arts in modern American society.
The event, co-sponsored by the Margaret Ermarth Institute for the Public Humanities and Office of the President, is free and open to the public.
An Ohio native and 1977 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, VADM Wisecup led an impressive decades-long military career, which included serving as the director of the White House Situation Room, Commander Naval Forces Korea, Commander of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan carrier group, and as the 52nd president of the Naval War College, from which he graduated in 1998. He also earned a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Southern California and a degree from the University of Strasbourg, France, as an Olmsted Scholar, among many other resume highlights.
Dr. Brady is a transformational administrator, respected scholar, and author, who began his tenure as Wittenberg’s 16th president on June 1, 2025. Prior to leading Wittenberg, Brady spearheaded the creation of the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky, where he also served as the T. W. Lewis Dean. Dr. Brady previously transformed the Schreyer Honors College at The Pennsylvania State University into a national model for excellence. In his first few months at Wittenberg, Dr. Brady has already made an impact, including launching a strategic planning process, partnering on new recruitment pipelines, securing leadership-level gifts, and instilling a renewed sense of hope in the University among alumni, faculty, staff, students, and families.
“I think the conversation with President Brady will be fascinating,” said Kenneth E. Wray Chair in the Humanities Christian Raffensperger, professor of history, department chair, and director of the Margaret Ermarth Institute for the Public Humanities.
“Dr. Brady is an academic, an Episcopalian minister, and now Wittenberg's 16th president. VADM Wisecup started in Piqua, went to the Naval Academy, and traveled the world serving our country,” Raffensperger added. “A conversation between these two men with divergent life paths about the present and future of the liberal arts and of the humanities in particular, will be an engrossing experience.”
Following their conversation, Dr. Brady and VADM Wisecup will take questions from the audience. The event will conclude with post-event reception from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
