Critical Engagements sponsors or co-sponsors a wide range of events on and off the CMU campus throughout the year. Please click on event titles for full details, including building and room numbers.
November 21, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Broadway Theatre, Mount Pleasant.
Free and open to the public.
The film will be followed by a panel and audience discussion featuring CMU faculty members.
We invite you and your student organization to a special conversation with Dr. Denise Williams Mallett, vice chair of the CMU Board of Trustees, and author of The Village Effect: Leadership, Faith, and the Power of Community.
Mount Pleasant – Park Library, Baber Room
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
7:00PM
This event will feature an author reflection, selected reading from The Village Effect, and a fireside chat with CMU President Neil MacKinnon. A proud CMU trustee, thought leader, and educator, Dr. Mallett will share her personal and professional journey, from navigating leadership transitions to building a meaningful legacy rooted in faith.
This event is free and has limited seating, and each attendee is required to complete a registration form. Reserve your seat today and be part of the conversation shaping the next generation of purpose-driven leadership.
RSVP by September 12, 2025 for the Mount Pleasant event
Let’s come together to honor the power of the village — past, present, and future.
September 13, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Broadway Theatre, Mount Pleasant.
Free and open to the public.
The film will be followed by a panel and audience discussion featuring CMU faculty members.
Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room, or longed for a friend who really understands you? To be human is to struggle with the balance of friendship, loneliness, and the pursuit of happiness. Many are surprised to learn that in a hyper-connected world, loneliness has been deemed a public health epidemic. This talk will explore the science behind these topics, including your current levels of loneliness and social support as well as the importance of finding reciprocal friendships through leisure social structures.
Dr. Shay Dawson, CMU professor in Recreation, Parks & Leisure Services Administration, is a nationally recognized researcher and award-winning teacher with expertise in disability studies, therapeutic interventions, and the science of happiness, among other fields. At CMU he created and regularly teaches RPL 101, “The Pursuit of Happiness.” In 2024 he was named MASU Distinguished Professor of the Year, a statewide award conferred by the Michigan Association of State Universities.
The CE theme for 2025–2026 is “Bowling Alone: Finding Community in an Age of Isolation.”
→ Details, events, and resources
Critical Engagements is a collaborative project housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences that makes the academic mission of Central Michigan University concrete by highlighting how our students, faculty, and community are tackling the world’s most pressing and difficult questions. → More details
