College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Background

The Panos Family Endowed Lecture in Equity and Social Justice was established through a generous endowment from the Thomas Michael Panos Family Estate in 2020. This lecture series, hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at the University of Houston, emerged during a significant period of national discourse on racial justice following the death of George Floyd.

What began as a response to contemporary events has developed into a sustained academic forum. The endowment ensures these scholarly conversations continue, with lectures held each semester.

Lectures have addressed diverse topics including:

• Public health disparities and their social dimensions
• Voting rights and electoral access
• Criminal justice systems and their societal impacts
• Economic structures and their relationship to social equality
• Immigration policy and border governance
• Historical contexts of violence in Texas
• Analysis of relevant Supreme Court decisions

Purpose

The lecture series provides a platform for examining equity, race and social justice issues through academic discourse. Distinguished speakers with expertise in critical studies of race and racial dynamics contribute their perspectives, enriching the intellectual environment of the university and broader community. 

Format

Initially launched as six events during 2020-21, the series now features one lecture per year. While the first eight events were conducted as webinars due to COVID-19 protocols, the series transitioned to an in-person format with simultaneous online livestreaming in Fall 2022. All lectures remain free and open to the public.