We are now less than one week away.
The Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL) at Ball State invites you to a special evening with Emily Esfahani Smith, a nationally recognized voice and best selling author who writes about meaning, purpose, and human flourishing.
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
- Time: 7:00–8:30 p.m.
- Location: Ball Brothers Foundation Hospitality Suite, Emens Auditorium
- Admission: Free and open to the public (registration encouraged).
We are living through a defining paradox: as the pursuit of happiness has intensified, so too have anxiety, loneliness, and disconnection, particularly among students and young adults. Smith’s work reframes this moment. Drawing on research across psychology, philosophy, and the social sciences, she argues that meaning -not happiness- is the foundation of a life well lived. Her framework centers on four core pillars:
- Belonging – connection and relationships
- Purpose – direction and contribution
- Storytelling – how we make sense of our lives
- Transcendence – moments that lift us beyond ourselves
Together, these pillars offer a powerful lens for understanding resilience, identity, and what it means to live well in uncertain times.
Why Attend? This event is not a lecture, it is an opportunity to engage ideas that sit at the heart of student well-being, civic life, and human development.
- Faculty: integrate into courses through reflection or discussion
- Students: connect learning to purpose and future pathways
- Community members: engage in a timely, nationally relevant conversation
Special Opportunities
- First 100 registrants entered into a drawing for one of 20 complimentary copies of The Power of Meaning
- Five attendees selected for a private dinner and small-group conversation with the author
Make plans now. Bring a colleague, a class, or a friend.
This will be one of Ball State’s most important public conversations of the semester.
Register Today!