2036: The Podcast

James T. Laney, former president of Emory University, reflects on his close friendship with President Jimmy Carter and the founding of The Carter Center at Emory. He shares memories of their work to establish the center, Carter’s inspiring leadership, and the lasting impact of Carter’s lectures and Town Halls on the Emory community. Laney also offers unique insights from his time as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea and discusses Carter’s humanitarian legacy.

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In this special podcast, Terry Adamson 68C 73L shares stories from his lifelong friendship with President Jimmy Carter. As a key figure in founding The Carter Center, Adamson reflects on its inception, partnership with Emory, and mission to advance human rights, global health, and democracy, calling it “a fulfillment of things he started as president.” He also pays tribute to Rosalynn Carter’s pioneering work in mental health and women’s rights, celebrating her profound and lasting influence.

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Libraries and museums don’t just preserve history. Clint Fluker, Emory’s inaugural senior director of culture, community, and engagement for the Carlos Museum and Emory Libraries, wants them to highlight new ideas and create space for important conversations. With exhibitions celebrating 50 years of hip-hop and the groundbreaking work of Black comic book artists, Emory is changing how communities interact with and think about museums and libraries.

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Sarah Higinbotham, assistant professor of English at Emory’s Oxford College, examines concepts of justice and human rights in literature. Higinbotham encourages students to look at old works through a new lens, helping them make personal connections with text written centuries ago. She also believes studying literature is not solely for college students. Through her nonprofit, Common Good Atlanta, she shares her love for literature with incarcerated people.

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For Wilbur Lam, innovation in medicine is all about improving patient care. As associate dean of innovation at Emory School of Medicine, Lam sees great promise in microtechnology to understand, diagnose, and treat disease. At his research lab and at the bedside, he’s combining bioengineering and medicine with the goal of making disease detection and treatment easier, faster, and more effective.

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For David Frank, practicing medicine involves more than just the art and science. Throughout his career, he has been inspired by deeply personal connections. One connection is particularly meaningful. He holds the Christopher Brett Wolf Chair in Hematology and Medical Oncology, named for the beloved son of John and Cammie Rice. Frank keeps a photo of Chris on his desk as a reminder of the personal stories behind every research study or patient interaction.

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Andrea Dittmann’s research on inequality in the workplace stems from personal experience. As a graduate student working part-time in a restaurant, she saw a difference in how she was treated as a research student and a waitress. Now an assistant professor with expertise in organization and management, Dittmann examines the disparities between blue- and white-collar workers. She says schools and companies alike can create more welcoming opportunities for first-generation college students.

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The race to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine showed the world just how powerful the immune system can be to prevent serious illness. Rafi Ahmed discusses how understanding the immune system is key to developing lifesaving vaccines. Ahmed, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Emory School of Medicine, directs the Emory Vaccine Center and is co-leader of the Cancer Immunology Research Program at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute.

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Ed Lee knows a thing or two about the power of healthy discussion. As senior director of the Barkley Forum for Debate and senior director of inclusivity for Emory College, he says an effective argument brings differing views together to come up with a compromise to move forward. Lee shares his passion for discourse and explains how listening and reflecting can bring people together.

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Judges are seen as impartial arbiters of the law, but they are elected officials with different legal backgrounds. Joanna Shepherd, Thomas Simmons Professor of Law at Emory, studies the intersection of law and economics. Her research looks at judicial behavior to see whether factors like campaign contributions, tenure, and personal experiences influence judicial decisions. In some recent legal cases, she says, judges have acted more like politicians.

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