Join us at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, for the biennial Michael R. Rion Lectureship, which was established to honor former Hartford International University Presidents Michael R. Rion. The lecturer is someone who has made a significant impact to society on a national or international level and who embodies a dedication to ministry in daily life.

A short reception in the chapel will run from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. before the lecture.

Jay Williams is such a person. The President and CEO of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving since 2017, he leads the Foundation’s commitment to dismantle structural racism, achieve equity and improve social and economic mobility in our region, in partnership with nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders.

"To me, civil discourse means to engage disparate views, the goal of which is not to persuade, but rather to become constructively informed by perspectives different than one’s own," Jay said.

Jay serves on the boards of the MetroHartford Alliance, AdvanceCT, and is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Council. At the national level, he is a member of the Community Foundation Opportunity Network, board vice chair of the Council on Foundations, and board vice chair of the Center for Community Progress.

Prior to coming to the Foundation, Jay served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, where he led the federal economic development agenda for the United States. He also served as Deputy Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House, where he was the principal liaison between the President of the United States and local elected officials.