My Secret Public Journal: Theater

Saturday, May 9, 2026

Building Bridges: A Conversation with Justice Amy Coney Barrett

As part of Crystal Bridges’ year-long celebration of America at 250, the Building Bridges series honors the American spirit of meeting in the middle with curiosity, courage, and care. Hosted by Board Chair Olivia Walton, the series brings together thought leaders, artists, and thinkers with differing perspectives to model civic dialogue and the power of meaningful questions.

From our home in Bentonville, Arkansas, we invite our neighbors and the nation to gather at our bridge: a place that connects what is divided and carries us forward together. Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, joins Olivia Walton to explore how civil disagreement sustains democracy. They will discuss how respect, intellectual rigor, and adherence to process guide judicial decision-making, and why these principles matter to every citizen. The conversation will also highlight how the American legal system is structured to accommodate differing viewpoints while upholding shared rules and institutions

Amy Coney Barrett

Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 28, 1972. She married Jesse M. Barrett in 1999, and they have seven children. She received a B.A. from Rhodes College in 1994 and a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1997. She served as a law clerk for Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 1997 to 1998, and for Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court of the United States during the 1998 Term.

After two years in private law practice in Washington, D.C., she became a law professor, joining the faculty of Notre Dame Law School in 2002. She was appointed a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017. President Donald J. Trump nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and she took her seat on October 27, 2020.

Olivia Walton

Olivia Walton is an advocate for the arts, women’s economic empowerment and maternal health in America’s Heartland. She serves as Chairperson of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, sits on the Council of the Momentary and leads the vision for OZ Art NWA, which activates art in public spaces across Northwest Arkansas. Olivia is the founder and CEO of Ingeborg Investments and Ingeborg Initiatives, and a co-founder of the Heartland Summit — each reflecting her commitment to advancing economic opportunity and social progress across the region. Through her personal philanthropy, she works to elevate the arts, improve maternal health outcomes in Arkansas and support policies that strengthen families and expand economic security for women.

Her passion for storytelling and big ideas is rooted in her early career as a journalist. She served as a Business Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC and anchored for Bloomberg Television in New York and London. Olivia holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the London School of Economics, and is a Henry Crown Fellow, Class of 2025. She lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband, Tom, and their three children.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

A Conversation with Bill Nye (H. Lee Scott Speakers Series)

Nye is best known as the host of the Emmy-winning series “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” which helped introduce a generation to science through humor and accessibility.

Today, he is a leading advocate for scientific literacy and evidence-based education. He continues to bring his love of science and flair for comedy to every appearance — deftly translating complex issues to help inspire audiences of all ages to engage with and improve our world.

Nye currently serves as CEO of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest non-governmental space organization. He is the host and executive producer of “The End is Nye” on Peacock and the science podcast “Science Rules! with Bill Nye.”

He has authored three New York Times bestselling books and has appeared on numerous television programs and films.

During his Pitt State presentation, Nye will address topics including space and planetary science, climate change, environmental issues, and science education.