Carleton Convos

About Carleton Convos

The Carleton College convocation program is a weekly lecture series that bring fresh insights and perspectives from experts in a variety of fields. The program has a rich history, dating back several decades. The selected convocation speakers assist the liberals arts mission of centering thoughtful conversation within education and beyond.

Publisher

Carleton College

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Apr 2023

Latest episode

28 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

69 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2026

   A&I Convocation with Jeff Ondich | September 25, 2026

   Jeff Ondich, Professor of Computer Science and the Winifred and Atherton Bean Professor of Science, Technology, and Society, has taught at Carleton since 1991. He has taught nearly all the required courses in the computer science major, while focusing mostly on software development, computer security, and computer systems. He has supervised dozens of teams of computer science majors working on their senior projects (“comps”). He has, via his students’ comps projects and his own research, collaborated widely across the college, engaging in projects with people in Carleton’s Facilities and Sustainability office, the New Student Week team, the sesquicentennial celebration team, and the departments of Linguistics, History, Music, Cinema and Media Studies, Studio Art, and Political Science. Much of Professor Ondich’s professional work has involved software design and development. His multi-lingual dictionary applications, published by his company Ultralingua, Inc., have been used by tens of millions of people. In addition, the software engine that underlies these apps has been incorporated into many programs written by other developers, including Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) applications that help people with speech disabilities to communicate efficiently and effectively; language-learning games and utilities; an online Dakota-English dictionary based on modern and historical datasets; etc. Professor Ondich has served in a variety of elected and appointed positions at Carleton, including Faculty President, co-chair of the Educational and Curriculum Committee, and chair of one of the curricular design teams that developed the graduation requirements that went into effect in 2010. He served as informal co-chair for the computer science half of the Math/CS department for a decade, and later as chair of the Computer Science Department. Professor Ondich earned a BA from St. Olaf College and a PhD in from the University of Minnesota, both in mathematics. He is an Offensive Security Certified Professional (i.e., he knows how to hack into computers). The title of Professor Ondich presentation is Tech minefields, expertise, and the liberal arts. Learn more about Carleton Convos at go.carleton.edu/convocations

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Carleton Opening Convo with Governor Tim Walz | September 14, 2026

   Carleton’s Opening Convocation is the first campus-wide event of a new academic year. It is a time of joy as we reassemble to engage in discovery and exploration. An important tradition, the Opening Convocation ceremony is intended both to affirm continuity with the past and to embrace new beginnings. This year’s keynote address was given by Governor Tim Walz, keeping with a long tradition of Minnesota governors speaking at the event. Tim Walz is Minnesota’s 41st Governor. He was first elected governor in 2018 and won re-election in 2022. Accomplishments from his time in office include providing universal free school meals for K-12 students, protecting reproductive freedom, strengthening voting rights, laying the groundwork for Minnesota to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2040, cutting taxes for the middle class, and expanding paid leave for Minnesota workers. Born in a small town in rural Nebraska, Governor Walz credits his Midwest upbringing for instilling in him the values of public service, generosity toward your neighbors, and working for the common good. After high school graduation, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard. He attended Chadron State College and graduated with a social science degree in 1989. He spent a year teaching abroad before returning home to serve full time in the Army National Guard and eventually accepting a high school teaching and coaching position. While teaching, Walz met his future wife, Gwen Whipple, who taught at the same school. They moved to Mankato in 1996, where he taught social studies and helped coach the Mankato West High School football team that won the school’s first state championship. After 24 years in the Army National Guard, he retired as Command Sergeant Major Walz from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005. Walz won his first election to the United States House of Representatives in 2006 and was re-elected for another five terms serving Minnesota’s First Congressional District in Southern Minnesota. In 2024, he was the Democratic Party’s nominee for Vice President of the United States. Learn more about Carleton Convos at go.carleton.edu/convocations

3. 

   5 May 2026

   Carleton Convo with Jana Shortal | May 01, 2026

   KARE 11 news anchor Jana Shortal delivered Carleton’s convocation on Friday, May 1, from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. in Skinner Chapel. Shortal, who has worked at KARE 11 for 22 years, has been a crucial reporter in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge, braving pepper spray from federal agents to report the news. Their convocation address, “The Surge,” is focused on their experience reporting Minnesota’s federal occupation, as motivated by their personal motto: “Because the truth, still, has to matter.” Shortal’s career as an anchor for KARE 11 has now spanned many deeply turbulent times in Minneapolis in the aftermath of the murders of George Floyd, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti. Shortal began their career as a general assignment reporter and currently works on KARE 11’s Breaking The News segment, weeknights at 6:30 p.m. During their career so far, they have been the winner of eight Upper Midwest Emmys and nominated for many more, honoring their media coverage on topics ranging from sports stories to the impacts of George Floyd’s legacy in Minneapolis. Originally from outside St. Louis, Shortal graduated from the University of Missouri–Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. If it were not for one persistent professor there, Shortal would have spent their adult life driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. They also once sold their 10th anniversary gift from KARE 11 to an ex so they could buy a pair of Air Jordans (fun facts courtesy of a 2020 MPR journalist series). Now, they live with their partner, Laura, and their child, Zeke. Learn more about Carleton Convos at go.carleton.edu/convocations

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

737,065

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

15

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.