BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University will welcome Tom Nichols, bestselling author and staff writer at The Atlantic, to campus on Thursday, March 26, 2026, for a lecture presented as part of the university’s William H. Fitzpatrick Chair of Political Science Lecture Series.
The event will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center and is free and open to the public.
Nichols’ lecture, titled "How the Death of Expertise is Undermining American Democracy and Politics," will examine contemporary challenges to democracy, civic responsibility, and the role of expertise in public life—issues that have become increasingly urgent in American political and cultural discourse. A confidently contrarian voice in national media, Nichols is widely known for his commentary on political polarization, democratic decline and foreign policy.
He is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters, which explores the collapse of public trust in experts and the growing attacks on science, journalism and higher education. First published in 2017 and now available in more than 15 languages, the book was called by POLITICO “a sweeping indictment of the deliberate, widespread and ultimately self-destructive devaluing of knowledge in America.” A second edition, released in 2024, incorporates new evidence—including the COVID-19 pandemic—to demonstrate how these trends have only intensified.
Nichols is also the author of Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from Within on Modern Democracy, a critique of illiberal movements across the political spectrum. In the book, Nichols argues that democracies are increasingly undermined not only by external threats but by citizens’ own disengagement, entitlement and weakening commitment to shared democratic values. Publishers Weekly praised the work as “a searing critique of contemporary political culture.”
In addition to his writing, Nichols serves as the author of The Atlantic Daily newsletter, which guides readers through major news developments and cultural debates. He is professor emeritus of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, where he taught for 25 years. He previously taught at Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, and the Harvard Extension School. Nichols' expertise spans foreign policy, Russia, nuclear weapons and the role of war in international affairs.
Nichols has been named to the POLITICO 50, recognizing key thinkers reshaping American politics and policy. His career also includes service as a legislative aide in both the Massachusetts House and the U.S. Senate, as well as work on Capitol Hill as personal staff to the late Senator John Heinz for defense and foreign affairs. A five-time undefeated Jeopardy! champion, Nichols is also known for bringing wit and cultural insight to his public commentary.
The Fitzpatrick Lecture Series at Canisius University is part of the broader Fitzpatrick Institute of Public Affairs and Leadership, which provides students with opportunities to engage directly with national leaders and thinkers addressing pressing societal issues. The Institute and lecture series are named in honor of William H. Fitzpatrick, a South Buffalo builder and longtime chair of the Erie County Democratic Party. His sons, Paul E. and Walter D. Fitzpatrick, endowed Fitzpatrick programming at Canisius in 1958 in memory of their father.
The Fitzpatrick Lecture Series was inaugurated in 1962 by President Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States. Since then, the university has hosted prominent figures in politics, academia, science, and public life, including Jane Goodall, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Bernice King.
For additional information about the lecture, please contact Richard A. Bailey, PhD, Fitzpatrick professor of history, at (716) 888-2684 or @email.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
