Cockefair Hall at UMKC

Cockefair Chair Lecture Series and Courses

The Cockefair Chair at UMKC presents an acclaimed lecture series and popular continuing education courses. Our programs have engaged Kansas Citians for more than 60 years. Join us and enrich your life!

Cockefair Lectures

The Cockefair Chair presents scholars, artists and experts discussing their perspectives on contemporary issues and ideas. Every year, a prominent author or poet presents a public lecture and serves as the writer in residence for students in the Creative Writing Program for the UMKC English Department. Recent lectures were presented by Andrew Bacevich, Ben Lerner, Carrie Mae Weems, Meg Wolitzer and Diana Liverman.

Cockefair Courses

The Cockefair Chair presents continuing education courses taught by members of the university’s talented faculty. Patrons enjoy the professors’ insights on topics within history, science, literature, music, politics and more. Each course meets three or four times in 90-minute sessions.

“I have read that an educated woman should be self-possessed in any circumstance and in complete control of every situation. I have had some historical or familial experience to suggest my behavior on the face of birth and death, marriage, war and peace. But I never dreamed I should have to encounter a Chair.”

—Carolyn Benton Cockefair, Nov. 16, 1960