Exploring Frontiers of Thought and Discovery at Fairfield University

Press release

Exploring Frontiers of Thought and Discovery at Fairfield University

Fairfield University will host two distinguished events exploring the global legacy of the Declaration of Independence (Nov. 20), and celebrating alumni advancing the frontiers of space, sea, and innovation (Dec. 1).

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (November 5, 2025)—Fairfield University invites the public to two upcoming events showcasing the power of ideas, discovery, and human achievement—one through the lens of history and global thought, and the other through the frontiers of science, engineering, and exploration.

David Armitage, PhD – The Opinions of Mankind: The Global Significance of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
Thursday, November 20
4:30 p.m.
Fairfield University | Kelley Center Presentation Room
To register visit: David Armitage, PhD – The Opinions of Mankind: The Global Significance of the U.S. Declaration of Independence

Join David Armitage, PhD, Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University, for a lecture and discussion exploring the global legacy of the Declaration of Independence and its enduring influence on political thought worldwide.

Dr. Armitage is the award-winning author and editor of nineteen books, including The Ideological Origins of the British Empire (2000), The Declaration of Independence: A Global History (2007), Foundations of Modern International Thought (2013), The History Manifesto (2014), and Civil Wars: A History in Ideas (2017). His forthcoming work, The Political Thought of John Locke, continues his examination of the evolution of political ideas.
This event is part of Fairfield University Explores 250 Years of the American Experiment: The Promise and Paradox, and is presented by the Humanities Institute and Arts & Minds, co-sponsored by the History Department.
Refreshments will be served.

American Frontiers: Fairfield Alumni at the Edge of Earth, Sea, and Space
Monday, December 1
7:00 p.m.
Fairfield University | Wien Experimental Theatre
Free Event | Ticket Required
To register visit: American Frontiers: Fairfield Alumni at the Edge of Earth, Sea, and Space.

Fairfield alumni are leading innovation across the nation and beyond—from launching Katy Perry and an all-female crew into space, to piloting the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, and exploring the deepest reaches of the ocean.

• Dr. Joe Sauvageau ’79, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Manjot Singh ’23, Blue Origin
• Stephanie Brij-Raj ’21, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Presented as part of the School of Engineering and Computing’s Robert “Bob” Sobolewski ’70 Family Distinguished Speaker Series, this dynamic conversation on engineering, exploration, and human potential will be moderated by Andres Leonardo Carrano, PhD, Dean of Fairfield’s School of Engineering and Computing, and former NASA Faculty Fellow at Marshall Space Flight Center.