The James R. Thompson Leadership Lecture Series was established in 1990 following a gift to the IMSA Fund for Advancement of Education. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, chose to honor Mr.Thompson for his service as governor of Illinois (1977-1991) and his leadership in establishing the Academy. As governor, Mr. Thompson established task forces, evaluated recommendations, proposed legislation and successfully urged passage of the Education Reform Act of 1985 which included creation of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.
Lectures from 1997
Mechanisms of Change: Do Lemons Whistle?, James Burke
Lectures from 1995
A Successful Failure, James Lovell
Lectures from 1994
The U.S. Space Program: Pioneering the Future, Sally Ride
Lectures from 1993
An Afternoon with Maya Angelou, Maya Angelou
Lectures from 1992
Science From a Political and Historical Point of View, Edward Teller
Lectures from 1991
Comets and the Origin of Life, Carl Sagan