Sherman, Texas – Author and civic advocate Pete Davis will speak at this year’s Will Mann Richardson Lecture Series on Thursday, April 9 from 11:00 a.m. – noon in Sherman Hall, Hoxie Thompson Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Davis’s work drives projects aimed at deepening American democracy and solidarity. He is the co-founder of the Democracy Policy Network, a state policy organization focused on raising ideas that deepen democracy. Davis’s book Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing encourages the “slow but necessary work of turning visions into projects, values into practices, and strangers into neighbors.”
In 2023, Davis co-produced a documentary on the life and work of his former teacher, civic guru Robert Putnam, the Harvard social scientist who coined the term “social capital” and wrote Bowling Alone. The award-winning film, Join or Die, was screened at Clinton Presidential Center, Aspen Institute, South by Southwest, and several prestigious film festivals.
Davis is also the co-founder of Getaway, a company that provides simple, unplugged escapes to tiny cabins outside of major cities, and his opinion pieces have appeared in New York Daily News, Aeon, the Guardian, Fast Company, America Magazine, and Falls Church News-Press.
The Will Mann Richardson Lectureships & Seminars are endowed by gifts from Will Mann Richardson and his wife, Gertrude Anne Windsor Richardson; his mother-in-law, Gertrude Buckley Windsor; and his children, William Windsor Richardson, John Marshall Richardson, Gertrude Windsor Richardson, and James Windsor Richardson. The purpose of the fund is to bring outstanding individuals to campus to discuss pertinent issues in economics, philosophy, law, and government.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, proudly celebrates 150 years in the Texoma region in 2026. Since establishing its home in Sherman in 1876, the College has formed deep and lasting partnerships with the community—collaborations that continue to enrich both campus life and the broader region. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Known for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, and hands-on learning, Austin College is one of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives. Founded in 1849, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under its original name and charter.
