Speakers

Click on the image above to view the 2025 Speakers Catalogue.

Speakers

Our Speakers give public talks and classroom presentations on history, culture, literature, ethics, the environment, and everything in between, enriching the lives of Delawareans by providing free opportunities for learning right in their own communities. 

Our roster of Speakers is made up of scholars, authors, historians, educators, artists, and others, all chosen not only for their expertise but also for their ability to connect with people of all ages. More than a hundred Speakers events take place each year at libraries, senior centers, schools, community centers, and other organizations across our state. 

Check out our calendar to find a Speaker program near you! 

Delaware Humanities programs are made possible in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or Delaware Humanities. 
How it Works

Speaker presentations are 45-60 minute lecture-style programs available to organizations in Delaware that serve public or school audiences.   

Host organizations request a Speaker and pay a small fee (discounted for non-profits) to Delaware Humanities to host the program. Delaware Humanities pays the Speaker an honorarium for their presentation and mileage for their travel. Any non-profit is welcome to apply to host a speaker at a fee of $75. For-profit organizations are also welcome to host a speaker at a fee of $150. Speaker programs must be free and open to the public and serve residents of Delaware. Speaker programs designed for K-12 classrooms are designated with an approved grade range and are available to schools at no cost. 

If you are interested in becoming a Speaker, we hold auditions annually. Click here for more information.  

How to Apply

Select a program for your audience. Please note that some programs are only for K-12 classrooms, some are not approved for classrooms, and some are for both–be sure to select the appropriate program for your audience/organization. You should allot 60-75 minutes for the program (presentations are 45-60 minutes, followed by time for audience questions), so please allow enough time for the program and questions at the end. 

Once you have chosen a Speaker presentation from our catalogue, contact the speaker directly using the “Contact Speaker” button. Set a time and date that works for your site and for the Speaker and go over all that Speaker’s specific technology needs for your chosen presentation. 

Create/ login to your Foundant account. This is the platform used to apply for any Delaware Humanities program or grant. For steps to create a Foundant account, click here

Fill out and submit the Speaker Request Application on Foundant. Requests must be received at least four weeks before the intended date of your program. Note that your application will be rejected if you have any outstanding paperwork or payments due to Delaware Humanities. Your application may also be rejected if you’ve requested the same program twice in a six-month time frame. Please note that funding is limited, and we cannot guarantee that all requests we receive in a year can be accommodated.  

Digitally sign the Presentation Agreement. You will be prompted by email to sign this document after your application has been submitted and approved. Failure to comply with the grant agreement will result in denial of future requests.   

Submit your payment to Delaware Humanities via check. Mail to 100 W 10th St, Suite 509, Wilmington DE, 19801. Fees are $75 for federally registered nonprofits, $150 for other organizations, and free for K-12 school classrooms. (Check your nonprofit status, if you are unsure.) 

You have scheduled your program! See the next section for steps to successfully plan and execute your event and finish your reporting to us. 

Once a Program is Booked

If indicated in the application, Delaware Humanities lists the program on our website. Host organizations should also advertise their event in their community. Do not advertise your program before you receive approval and sign the presentation agreement. You can find tips and templates for advertising in the Speaker Host Toolkit below in Host Resources. 

In exchange for our sponsorship and promotional assistance, we expect hosts to credit Delaware Humanities in promotional materials and tell the audience that Delaware Humanities sponsored the program. For example, at the start of the program please say “This program is made possible by Delaware Humanities. Learn more at dehumanities.org.” Please spell out “Delaware Humanities” in all announcements. Use our logo on any physical or digital promotional materials you create—our logo is in the host toolkit. 

Contact Delaware Humanities and your Speaker immediately if there is ANY change in your program. If you must change the place, date, or time, call us at 302-657-0650, ext. 2, and email info@dehumanities.org. We will post cancellation and rescheduling information on our website and social media, as applicable. Alert your presenter, community, and media outlets as far in advance as possible with changes. Post notice of any change at the venue. 

Refer to the Program Host Checklist for detailed information about preparing for and hosting your event. 

At least one week before the date of your Speaker program, contact your Speaker again to confirm all details. Whether the program is virtual or in-person, it is the responsibility of the host organization to communicate with the Speaker about their technological needs for the program. Delaware Humanities will not provide any technological resources or assistance. 

Print and hand out Audience Evaluation forms to attendees. Collect these at the end of the program and return them to Delaware Humanities by mail or email. If the program is virtual, provide the link to audience members to the digital evaluation for virtual programs. Log in to your Foundant account (online) and complete the Program Coordinator Evaluation form within one week of your program. 

Host Resources

Creating an Account on Foundant – PDF and Video Instructions

Follow-up Forms on Foundant – PDF and Video Instructions (Note: the video shows Grant follow up forms, however the process for accessing and submitting your follow forms is the same)

Audience Evaluation Form – PDF

Questions? Contact us for more information!

List of Current Speakers

Donna Aviles
Programs Offered
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Kim Burdick
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Charito Calvachi-Mateyko
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Lisa Chase
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Linda De Roche
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Joan DelFattore
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Mike Dixon
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Kathy Doyle
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Lora Englehart
Programs Offered
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Carla Guerrón Montero
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Sidney Jacobs
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Eunice Lafate
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Nancy Lynch
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Eric Mease
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Margaret Opsata
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Kathy Trusty
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Explore Our Programs

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African Americans and the Civil War
Speaker: Kathy Trusty
Brown v. Board of Education: The Legal Battle to End Segregation
Speaker: Kathy Trusty
Collision on Route 40: Cold War Tensions & Civil Rights
Speaker: Mike Dixon
Diversity in Latin America
Speaker: Charito Calvachi-Mateyko
Escape from Hitler’s Europe: The Comet Line and Its Helpers
Speaker: Linda De Roche
Fake News, Fraud, and Honest Error: The Psychology of Belief
Speaker: Joan DelFattore
Folk Art & Culture
Speaker: Eunice Lafate
Freedom Poems: Conversation with a Poet
Speaker: Sidney Jacobs
Mad Hatters and White Elephants: Surprising Origins of Common Phrases
Speaker: Margaret Opsata
Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Delaware’s Forgotten Daughter
Speaker: Lora Englehart
Oh Say Can You See…
Speaker: Eric Mease
Remember the Ladies
Speaker: Eric Mease
Restorative Justice
Speaker: Charito Calvachi-Mateyko
Rethinking Our Home Landscapes
Speaker: Kathy Doyle
Seized in September: Revolutionary War Comes to Delaware
Speaker: Kim Burdick
The Delaware Poisoned Candy Murders of 1898
Speaker: Margaret Opsata
The History of Etiquette: Why We Do What We Do
Speaker: Lisa Strong Chase
The Mason Dixon Line: An Enduring Boundary in American History
Speaker: Mike Dixon
The Orphan Train Movement of 1854-1929
Speaker: Donna Aviles
The REAL Women: Veterans of Vietnam
Speaker: Nancy Lynch
The Right to Lie
Speaker: Joan DelFattore
The Ritchie Boys: The Allies’ Secret Weapon
Speaker: Linda De Roche
The Story of the St. Jones River
Speaker: Kathy Doyle
Vietnam Mailbag
Speaker: Nancy Lynch
What You Never Knew About Nancy Drew
Speaker: Lora Englehart
Why the World Needs Anthropologists
Speaker: Carla Guerrón Montero