The University of Massachusetts Amherst Office of Equity and Inclusion will launch its Spring 2026 Faculty Lecture Series at the Springfield Center on March 10, bringing faculty expertise to the local community for dialogue on issues of public interest. 

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The monthly lecture series will examine topics related to the “Make America Healthy Again” federal initiative, established by executive order in February 2025 to improve the health of Americans, with a particular emphasis on children’s health, and addressing rising rates of chronic disease.

All events are free and open to the public and will be held at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield at 1500 Main St., Suite 260, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  More information and RSVP are available on the Office of Equity and Inclusion event website. 

The series opens Tuesday, March 10, with “Understanding the Health Impacts of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill” presented by Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute. 

Signed into law on July 4, President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill includes the largest reductions in federal health benefits enacted in the United States, primarily affecting recipients of Medicaid and those who have received support under the Affordable Care Act. Pollin will assess the potential impact of these spending cuts on health outcomes nationwide and discuss alternative policy approaches aimed at improving health care access while controlling costs.

On Tuesday, April 14, Megan Gross, associate professor of speech, language and hearing sciences, will facilitate a panel “Understanding Autism: Evidence, Myths, and Realities.”

The panel will feature faculty experts and special guest Helen Tager-Flusberg, professor emerita and director of the Center for Autism Research Excellence at Boston University. Panelists will address questions of public concern, including research on autism and its causes, shifts in prevalence over time, the impact of statements and media narratives about autism on individuals and families, and strategies to strengthen support systems. 

The discussion will also include common misconceptions about bilingualism and autism. Gross will highlight her ongoing research, Project ABC Familias: Autism, Bilingualism, and Communication in Familias Latinas, which studies bilingual development among children on the autism spectrum.

The series concludes on Tuesday, May 12 with “Vaccines: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction” presented by Wilmore Webley, professor of microbiology and senior vice provost of equity and inclusion. 

Webley will examine the growing challenges of science denialism, declining vaccination rates, and widespread confusion about childhood vaccine safety and recommendations. In the wake of the COVID‑19 pandemic, recent measles and diphtheria outbreaks across the United States and globally, he will explain scientific evidence supporting vaccines and the technologies used in their development. Designed for a general audience, the lecture will present clear, accessible information to help individuals protect themselves and their families from vaccine‑preventable diseases.

Guests are encouraged to RSVP for the March 10, April 14 and May 12 lectures.