Students walking outside Union Station

One component of the course is a series of guest lectures by Washingtonians and university scholars who provide unique perspectives on the politics, economics, architecture, art, history, neighborhoods, and life of Washington, D.C. Guest speakers who have visited the course since its inception include:

  • Kathleen Akerly
    Artistic Director, Longacre Lea Productions
  • Sylvia Ba
    Local Author
  • Lucy Barber
    Deputy Executive Director, National Historical Publications and Records Commission, National Archives and Records Administration
  • Bruce DePuyt
    Host, "NewsTalk," News Channel 8
  • John J. Dillon
    Lieutenant, United States Park Police, National Parks Service
  • James C. Dinegar
    President and CEO, Greater Washington Board of Trade
  • Louise Diver
    Long-Time Washingtonian
  • Linda Donaldson 
    National Catholic School of Social Service, Catholic University
  • Hazel Edwards
    School of Architecture and Planning, Catholic University
  • John Feeley
    Author, Images of America: Brookland
  • John H. Franklin
    Director of Partnerships and International Programs, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Christine Glunz
    Deputy Chief of Staff, Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President
  • Judith Gradwohl
    Associate Director, Office of Public Programs, Smithsonian National Museum of American History
  • Nellie Gray
    President and Founder, March for Life
  • Bill Gray and Michael Najarian
    Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Fund
  • Tara Hamilton
    Public Affairs Manager, Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority
  • Candy S. Hill
    Senior Vice President for Social Policy and Government Affairs, Catholic Charities USA
  • Maurice Jackson
    Associate Professor of History and African-American Studies and Affiliated Professor of Performing Arts, Georgetown University
  • John Kelly
    The Washington Post
  • Christa Lopiccolo
    Executive Director of Life Issues, Archdiocese of Washington
  • Bill Largess
    Artistic Director, Washington Stage Guild
  • Jack Mann
    Long-Time Washingtonian
  • Ann Millin
    Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Gene Morrill
    Washington Theatre Alliance/ Helen Hayes Award Adjudicator
  • Jennifer Nelson
    D.C. Director, African Continuum Theater Company
  • Michael Neufeld
    Curator, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
  • Ann Norton
    Executive Director, Washington Stage Guild
  • Mark Plotkin
    Political Commentator and Analyst, WTOP Radio
  • Enrique Pumar
    Department of Sociology, Catholic University
  • Scott Roecker
    National Security Council
  • Kurt Runge
    Advocacy Specialist, So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.)
  • Molly and Paul Ruppert
    The Warehouse Theater
  • John Stipicevic
    Director of Floor Operations, Office of the Majority Whip, United States House of Representatives
  • Thomas Striegel
    Vice President, Davis Buckley Architects and Planners
  • Jessica Towhey
    2ee Communications
  • Tommy Wells
    District of Columbia City Councilmember, Ward Six
  • Dennis Wholey
    Television Host, This Is America
  • Cathy Wood
    Vice President of Finance, Catholic University
  • Julia Young
    Department of History, Catholic University