Distinguished Speaker Series
The Stanford Parents' Club Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) brings together renowned Stanford professors and experts to share their insights on academics, career success, research innovations, and global perspectives. These engaging talks provide parents with a deeper understanding of the Stanford experience, offering valuable knowledge and inspiration from some of the university’s brightest minds. Whether you’re looking to explore new ideas, gain expert advice, or stay connected with the Stanford community, we invite you to join us for these thought-provoking sessions.
🔗 The Zoom link is shared through our monthly newsletters. If you are not yet a member, please visit the Join page for registration details.
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2026-27 DSS Quick Links:
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Past DSS:
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See Distinguished Speaker Series Recordings for past talks.
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Explore our 2025-26 Distinguished Speaker Series and our 2024-25 Distinguished Speaker Series.
Friday, October 9, 2026
10 AM - 11 AM Pacific Time
Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. Deeply committed to human and planetary health, she is passionate about educating her patients and colleagues on the merits of sustainable plant-rich diets as a strategy to both improve individual health and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.
10 AM - 11 AM
Pursuing Excellence, Finding Joy: The Road Ahead for Student Life at Stanford
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
We are honored to welcome Michele Rasmussen, Stanford’s Vice Provost for Student Affairs, as our keynote opening speaker for the 2026–2027 Distinguished Speaker Series. A member of the University Cabinet, Vice Provost Rasmussen leads the division dedicated to student life, health and well-being, residential education, and campus community engagement across the Farm. Prior to joining Stanford, she served as Dean of Students at the University of Chicago, Dean of the Undergraduate College at Bryn Mawr College, and Academic Dean at Duke University. She holds a B.A. from UCLA and a Ph.D. in biological anthropology and anatomy from Duke University.
Friday, November 13, 2026
10 AM - 11 AM Pacific Time
The Future of Science, Astrophysics, and More in an Era of AI
10 AM - 11 AM
Director of Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Professor of Physics and of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, and Senior Fellow at Stanford HAI
Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. Deeply committed to human and planetary health, she is passionate about educating her patients and colleagues on the merits of sustainable plant-rich diets as a strategy to both improve individual health and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.
The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) is a campus-wide initiative dedicated to ensuring that AI technologies are developed to improve the human condition. By bringing together diverse experts from all seven Stanford schools, HAI focuses on creating systems that augment human capabilities while prioritizing ethics, safety, and social impact. Our speakers will explore how these human-centered principles are being applied to real-world challenges.
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A renowned cosmologist, Risa Wechsler focuses on understanding how the universe grew from the Big Bang to the complex structures seen today. Her research group develops state-of-the-art computational simulations and applies machine learning algorithms to massive astronomical datasets, helping unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy while pushing the boundaries of AI-driven scientific discovery.
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Vanessa Parli oversees external partnerships, educational initiatives, and strategic programs designed to bridge the gap between AI research and real-world application. She works closely with faculty, industry leaders, and policymakers to foster interdisciplinary collaborations, ensuring that emerging AI technologies are developed and deployed ethically, safely, and in service of the public good.
Friday, February 12, 2027
10 AM - 11:30 AM Pacific Time
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Keeping Young Hearts in the Game: What Parents Should Know About Sports Cardiology
SHC faculty and Sports Cardiology Medical Director
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
The Heart of Prevention: What You Can Do Today for a Healthier Tomorrow
Cardiologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Keeping Your Heart in Rhythm: The Hidden Side of Heart Health (Palpitations, Wearables and Heart Rhythm) / Women's Heart Health Across Every Stage of Life
Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine - Cardiovascular Medicine
We are honored to open this special Distinguished Speaker Series event with a conversation featuring Jonathan Levin, the 13th President of Stanford University. An accomplished economist and academic leader, President Levin focuses on strengthening Stanford’s core missions of education, research, and service, and his session will offer Stanford families a unique opportunity to engage with university leadership on campus priorities and university life.
Following President Levin, celebrate Heart Health Month with us as we bring together a panel of leading Stanford Health cardiologists to discuss lifelong cardiovascular wellness. Featuring Dr. Jason V. Tso, Dr. Rupan Bose, and Dr. Mehak Dhande, this engaging discussion will cover sports cardiology, preventative care, and heart rhythm monitoring. Join us to discover practical, science-backed strategies for supporting your family's health and well-being.
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Dr. Jason V. Tso leads Stanford's Sports Cardiology program, where he helps athletes and active individuals maximize performance while protecting their heart health. As the team Cardiologist for the Stanford Athletics’ and the San Francisco 49ers, Dr. Tso combines cutting-edge Cardiovascular Science with practical guidance on exercise, prevention, and lifelong Wellness. His work focuses on helping people of all ages safely stay active, and how exercise can support long-term cardiovascular health.
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Dr. Rupan Bose specializes in Preventive Cardiology, with a particular focus on high-risk populations. He serves in the Preventive Cardiology clinic and also the Stanford South Asian Translational Heart Initiative (SSATHI) clinic. He also serves as the Medical Director for the Inpatient Cardiology Services and the Medical Director of the Inpatient Cardiology (J7) Unit. Additionally, he serves on the Cardiology Consult service and Inpatient Cardiology service, where he supervises and teaches Fellows, Residents, and Medical Students from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
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Dr. Mehak Dhande is a cardiac electrophysiologist with a master’s degree in clinical informatics and management from Stanford University. After internal medicine and cardiology training at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, she completed cardiac electrophysiology training at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is a physician scientist, clinician, and educator, with research interest in patient-facing applications of AI and scalable healthcare delivery models. In practice, she combines her knowledge of cardiology, EP, and healthcare technology with that of health system strategies and operations, to deliver the highest quality of care to her patients.
Friday, March 12, 2026
10 AM - 11 AM Pacific Time
Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. Deeply committed to human and planetary health, she is passionate about educating her patients and colleagues on the merits of sustainable plant-rich diets as a strategy to both improve individual health and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.
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We are thrilled to welcome Pulitzer Prize winner and National Book Award recipient Adam Johnson to our Distinguished Speaker Series. As a prominent Professor of English at Stanford, his teaching pushes the boundaries of creative writing and explores how deep research can bring complex stories to life. Professor Johnson will delve into his literary journey, the "coiled power" of short fiction, and the way narratives connect us across fractured histories. This session offers parents a fascinating look into the world of creative writing from the forefront of Stanford’s renowned humanities faculty.
Friday, April 9, 2027
10 AM - 11 AM Pacific Time
10 AM - 11 AM
What Do We (Really) Want from AI?
Associate Professor of Music and Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI
Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. Deeply committed to human and planetary health, she is passionate about educating her patients and colleagues on the merits of sustainable plant-rich diets as a strategy to both improve individual health and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.
Ge Wang is an Associate Professor at Stanford University in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). He researches the artful design of tools, toys, games, musical instruments, programming languages, expressive VR experiences, and interactive AI systems with humans in the loop. Ge is the architect of the ChucK audio programming language, the director of the Stanford Laptop Orchestra and the Stanford VR Design Lab. He is the Co-founder of Smule and the designer of the Ocarina and Magic Piano apps for mobile phones. He is a Senior Fellow and a Faculty Associate Director of Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI). He teaches at the intersection of engineering, art, and the humanities. A 2016 Guggenheim Fellow, Ge is the author of Artful Design: Technology in Search of the Sublime, a photo comic book about how we shape technology—and how technology shapes us.
Friday, April 9, 2026
10 AM - 11 AM Pacific Time
Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. Deeply committed to human and planetary health, she is passionate about educating her patients and colleagues on the merits of sustainable plant-rich diets as a strategy to both improve individual health and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.
10 AM - 11 AM
What Do We (Really) Want from AI?
Associate Professor of Music and Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI
Ge Wang is an Associate Professor at Stanford University in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). He researches the artful design of tools, toys, games, musical instruments, programming languages, expressive VR experiences, and interactive AI systems with humans in the loop. Ge is the architect of the ChucK audio programming language, the director of the Stanford Laptop Orchestra and the Stanford VR Design Lab. He is the Co-founder of Smule and the designer of the Ocarina and Magic Piano apps for mobile phones. He is a Senior Fellow and a Faculty Associate Director of Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI). He teaches at the intersection of engineering, art, and the humanities. A 2016 Guggenheim Fellow, Ge is the author of Artful Design: Technology in Search of the Sublime, a photo comic book about how we shape technology—and how technology shapes us.
Friday, May 14, 2026
10 AM - 11 AM Pacific Time
Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University. Deeply committed to human and planetary health, she is passionate about educating her patients and colleagues on the merits of sustainable plant-rich diets as a strategy to both improve individual health and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.
10 AM - 11 AM
The Future of Stanford Athletics
Jaquish & Kenninger Director and Chair of Athletics
John Donahoe serves as Stanford’s Jaquish & Kenninger Director and Chair of Athletics, bringing extensive experience as a former CEO of Nike, ServiceNow, and eBay. An alumnus of Stanford Graduate School of Business, Donahoe is known for his leadership in business strategy, innovation, and organizational transformation. His appointment signals a vision of combining athletic excellence with deep institutional values at Stanford.
