Merten to impart 'last lecture' wisdom

President Alan Merten addresses a crowd of alumni and Mason community members at a March 28 event. (Jake McLernon)

President Alan Merten will address students and other members of the Mason community Thursday with a talk on what wisdom he would choose to share if it were his hypothetical “last chance.”

Merten’s “Last Lecture,” which will be held at campus’s nearby St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel, borrows the name behind its theme from the popularized “Last Lecture” of the late Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch. Pausch, who died of complications from pancreatic cancer, gave one final lecture at Carnegie Mellon about the most important lessons and wisdom he had learned.

Other universities have since adopted the idea of a “last lecture” for certain faculty members, including those retiring after a long career. The lectures often follow the same theme of what wisdom an individual would “want to try to impart to the world” if it were a last chance, a question the Merten event poster also asks.

“President Merten has had such a tremendous impact on our university community over the past 16 years,” said Fr. Peter Nassetta, chaplain of Mason’s Catholic Campus Ministry, who has been involved with the event’s coordination at the ministry’s chapel. “It is exciting to have this opportunity to hear what he thinks is the most important message he wants to leave us.”

The idea for Merten to deliver a last lecture came out of a Campus Ministry Association meeting, according to Fr. Nassetta. Fr. Nassetta met last fall with Merten, whom he said liked the idea.

“He liked the idea, and especially wanted it to be at a time when students would be available,” said Fr. Nassetta.

Though stepping down from the role of president in July, Merten will still be involved with some aspects of the Mason community, including teaching possible classes about leadership and technology in contemporary society.

The Campus Ministry Association and University Life are sponsoring Thursday’s event.

Merten has not disclosed what “wisdom” he intends to talk about.

“He has not told me anything intends to talk about,” said Fr. Nassetta. “Suspense!”

The April 19 event begins at 5 p.m. St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel is located behind Presidents Park at the corner of Shennandoah River Lane and Roberts Road.