It has been four weeks since we last gathered together and shared in the wonder and awe that Chautauqua provides. For the Education pillar, that means the Amphitheater lecturers and Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle authors you engage with all summer, opportunities to deepen your learning and insight through the Masters Series, and the beloved community spaces and programs at the Smith Memorial Library and Oliver Archives Center. My colleagues and I, who oversee these programs, are incredibly proud of what we accomplished in 2026. It was so gratifying to realize many months of dreaming and planning as it became a living, breathing program — and to witness you all engaging so deeply with it. 

There are far too many highlights, so I’ll constrain myself to a Top Five based on some themes: 

• The Questions! I have the pleasure of reading every question submitted during the 10:45 a.m. lectures, and my goodness, did you all deliver this year! Nearly every one of our 45 Chautauqua Lecture Series programs could’ve easily gone an extra 30 minutes on the power and energy of the Chautauqua audience’s handwritten and digital inquiries alone. In every week, and especially during “Global Power and Our Evolving International Order,” our speakers regularly commented on the respect and curiosity represented in the questions you asked, and their answers reflected that respect and curiosity right back. Bravo! 
• Welcoming Back Old Friends. It had been eight years since Ken Burns had been back to Chautauqua, and so it was a true pleasure during our week on “America at 250” to watch as his passion for this place reignited. We also welcomed back, among others, NBC Chief Tech Analyst Joanna Stern (a fellow Chautauquan, I’ll note!), PBS CEO Paula Kerger, E.J. Dionne Jr., constitutional historian Jeffrey Rosen (our 2025–26 Chautauqua Perry Fellow in Democracy), UVA Karsh Institute of Democracy Executive Director Melody Barnes, The Atlantic staff writer Nancy Youssef, “PBS News Hour” co-anchor Amna Nawaz, “Finding Your Roots” host Henry Louis Gates Jr. and “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Conor Knighton. What a testament to Chautauqua that these folks all enthusiastically accepted an invitation to return — in a couple instances, they actually pitched returning to the Amp stage to us! 
• Seeing the Newbies Fall in Love. Alongside those familiar voices, in 2026 we introduced to Chautauqua, among others, the renowned television journalists and commentators Norah O’Donnell, Deborah Roberts, Chuck Todd and Karim Sadjadpour; the eminent astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson; New York Times opinion writers Christine Emba and David Wallace-Wells; Project Basecamp co-founder Rainn Wilson (“Dwight Schrute” himself!); best-selling authors Priya Parker, Dave Eggers, John McWhorter, Marie Arana and Tessa Hulls; the actor and activist Nazanin Boniadi; “Next Level Chef” co-host Chef Nyesha Arrington; the celebrated classical pianist Lara Downes; and former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. What a list! To a person, these new friends were blown away by Chautauqua — by the setting, by the audience, by the sense of hospitality and community. I expect we will see all of these folks back in some capacity in the near future — perhaps even simply as fellow Chautauquans! 
• The Quiet, Meaningful Moments. I have the privilege in this role of witnessing some truly poignant, intimate exchanges between Chautauqua audience members and our VIP speakers and authors. At meet-and-greets and book signings throughout the summer, we are proud to offer you opportunities to briefly express your gratitude to those whose work and words have touched your lives. I can tell you these exchanges are just as meaningful for the speakers and authors. Occasionally, a deep personal connection is discovered — I truly can’t believe how many Chautauquans are the parents or neighbors of people in these VIPs’ networks! 
• Emerging Leaders Shining Bright. In 2026 we welcomed new leadership in Chautauqua Literary Arts and the Oliver Archives Center. I had the honor of announcing Stephine Hunt’s permanent appointment as Michael I. Rudell Director of Literary Arts on CLSC Recognition Day. The literary community’s ovation in that special moment echoed the glowing reviews all summer regarding the quality of our literary arts programming under Stephine’s leadership. Likewise, Emily Carpenter has taken the reins as manager of the Archives, with Jon Schmitz now enjoying a lifetime honorary appointment as historian emeritus. The Archives under Emily’s leadership continue to serve as a critical resource, keeping Chautauqua’s history alive and accessible, during the summer and throughout the year. 

There is much to celebrate and to be thankful for when reflecting on the bounty that was our 2026 Summer Season. While I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to catch up on sleep and finish a summerlong personal house move, I do miss the pace and energy of the summer. The next nine months for my colleagues and me will be full of quiet, intense work to recreate and exceed the same level of program and experience we were able to provide you in 2027. Keep in touch, and send us your suggestions! While the 2027 Summer Season is teeming with exciting partnerships that will deliver even more wonderful new voices to Chautauqua, we rely heavily on you all to help shape our themes and narratives and, in some cases, even help make direct connections. I’m so appreciative of your generosity of spirit. 

I have a quote from former Chautauqua President Tom Becker on a sign in my office: “This is good and important work.” There are a few ways we all — staff, talent and community — hold and touch the good element of that binomial, which might have different meanings depending on how you read it. But it is you all who make this work important, when you carry what you’ve heard and learned at Chautauqua beyond our gates and beyond the summer, to improve your home lives and communities.  

Thank you for your shared stewardship of Chautauqua’s mission, and above all, for being the reason our work is both good and important. 

Warm Regards, 

Jordan Steves  
Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education