For her first Dean’s Lecture Series as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Stephanie Shonekan will be in conversation with legendary singer, activist and philanthropist Dionne Warwick. Shonekan and Warwick share a rich background in music. Shonekan is an esteemed ethnomusicologist, and Warwick is an award-winning, chart-topping musician. They will discuss the connection between music and social justice and how celebrities can catalyze positive change in the world. They will also delve into a timely dialogue around race, culture, identity and history. The lecture will conclude with a Q&A.

Warwick has sold more than 100 million records and charted 75 hit songs. Some of her most popular recordings include “Walk on By,” “Are You There (With Another Girl)” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” Warwick has six GRAMMY awards including the prestigious Best Contemporary Female Vocalist Performance award. Her extensive philanthropic efforts have raised millions of dollars to support music education, AIDS research, global hunger, children’s hospitals and disaster aid.

Presented by the College of Arts and Humanities in partnership with the School of Music, this event is part of Arts for All, a campuswide initiative leveraging the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. This event is open to students, faculty, staff and the general public.