Fletcher Lecture Series By: Delani Bauer

This fall, Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) students and faculty are invited to attend the Fletcher Lecture Series.  The series is in partnership with the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.

Lectures will be held in HSU’s Houston Lantrip Center (2241 Pine Street, Abilene, Texas, (79601) and begin at 11:30 a.m..

The Fletcher Lecture Series brings leaders from around the world to the HSU campus to inspire and empower their audiences. The leaders head various fields including business, faith, public communications and sciences.  Each speaker brings a unique perspective and experience of the professional world.

The Fall 2026 speaker line-up and content areas are as follows:

• Derrick Duke (Sept. 8): CEO and Director of eHealth Inc., bringing more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience. 

• Brad Winges (Sept. 29): President and CEO of Hilltop Securities Inc., overseeing the firm’s strategic direction and financial operations.

• Jean Savage (Oct. 6): President and CEO of Trinity Industries, Inc., with extensive experience in engineering, manufacturing and executive leadership.

• David Auld (Oct. 27): Executive Chairman of D.R. Horton Inc., drawing on decades of experience in the homebuilding industry and strategic leadership.

• David Miller (Nov. 3): Co-Founder and Managing Partner of EnCap Investment L.P., a longtime leader in the energy industry with extensive executive and board experience.

• Chris Daskevich (Nov. 17): CEO of CHRISTUS Children’s, with expertise in pediatric and maternal healthcare leadership.

The series is named in honor of former HSU president, Dr. Jesse C. Fletcher.  Dr. Fletcher’s mission was to continue HSU’s values of faith-driven leadership.  The Fletcher Lecture Series is meant to empower this generation’s future leaders, equipping students with professional insight.  Students will receive perceptiveness of the professional world and the leaders who have shaped it.

An RSVP is open to attend any lecture of the series, located on the HSU website (https://www.hsutx.edu/fls/).  To watch recorded lectures from previous sessions and obtain sponsorship information, visit the previous link.  HSU students received an email containing the speaker schedule and RSVP information.

Serie’s sponsors include First Financial Bank, First Financial Wealth Management, KRBC Abilene’s Local News, and KTAB News.