Ball State to Host 2026 McGovern Lecture Featuring Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar

Topics: Community Engagement, Faculty, Muncie, Speakers

February 3, 2026

Ball State University will welcome The Honorable Alex M. Azar II, the 24th secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as the featured speaker for the 2026 McGovern Lecture Series on Monday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom.

The presentation-which is free and open to the public-is sponsored by Ball State's College of Health and the Department of Nutrition and Health Science. The fireside chat will be moderated by Dr. Tya Arthur, assistant professor of health science and public health program director.

Free campus parking is available in General Faculty/Staff (yellow) lots after 5 p.m., and in Restricted Surface (red) lots and campus garages after 7 p.m., Monday-Friday.

"I'm grateful to Secretary Azar for taking the time to join us at Ball State," said Dr. Scott Rutledge, College of Health dean. "The McGovern Lecture Series gives our students, faculty, and community the chance to hear directly from national leaders, ask thoughtful questions, and consider the real-world challenges and decisions that shape health and well-being. We're excited to welcome attendees for an evening of meaningful conversation and learning."

Secretary Azar served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2018-21 and led Operation Warp Speed, a public-private effort to accelerate the development of critical medical countermeasures and therapeutics in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, he advanced major public health initiatives, including efforts focused on reducing youth tobacco and e-cigarette use, launching a national plan to end the HIV epidemic, strengthening rural health, improving maternal health, and responding to emerging public health threats.

Secretary Azar has held senior leadership roles in both government and the private sector, including serving as president of Lilly USA, LLC and as deputy secretary and general counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services. He currently serves on several boards and is an adjunct professor and distinguished executive-in-residence at the University of Miami Herbert Business School.

For more than 40 years, the McGovern Lecture Series has been made possible through the generosity of internationally regarded pediatric allergist Dr. John P. McGovern. His friendship with Ball State professor Dr. Warren Schaller helped establish a lasting legacy of support for the Department of Nutrition and Health Science.

Past McGovern Lecture recipients have included former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, Dr. C. Everett Koop, medical innovator Dr. Henry Heimlich, NBC science correspondent Robert Bazell, and television personality Graham Kerr.

For more information about the upcoming McGovern Lecture Series event, contact Dr. Arthur ([email protected]) or Dr. Nimish Valvi ([email protected]), assistant professor of epidemiology.