Atlas Society founder speaks at COBE, BB&T lecture series
Atlas Society founder and chief intellectual officer David Kelley delivered the keynote address April 18 at the College of Business and Economics (COBE) BB&T Global Capitalism Lecture Series Luncheon.
A popular author, philosopher and teacher, Kelley has been an active proponent of objectivism for more than 25 years.
“I have spent a lot of my professional life studying, explaining and advocating the core ideas of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of objectivism and the ideas in her novels, especially her final and greatest novel, “’Atlas Shrugged,’” Kelley told the lunchtime gathering in COBE’s Kyle Hall.
Kelley said it was “quite an honor” to join a long line of distinguished speakers who have graced the stage at the semi-annual event, many of whom Kelley said “are heroes of mine.”
Following his talk, Kelley was joined on stage by Atlas Society CEO Jennifer Grossman for a brief Q-and-A session. Grossman had been scheduled as the keynote speaker. However, a travel snafu delayed her arrival to campus.
Grossman is a former senior vice president at the Dole Food Company and speechwriter for President George H. W. Bush. She previously served as director of education at the Cato Institute and worked closely with the late philanthropist Theodore J. Forstmann to launch the Children's Scholarship Fund.
“This series is a tremendous asset to COBE and the entire Radford community because it brings outstanding speakers to campus,” said COBE Dean George Low. “These high-profile speakers generate thought, discussion, new ideas and an overall awareness of important issues and challenges related to global capitalism. “
Low said the speakers are important “because they benefit a wide range of stakeholders including students, faculty, staff and the business community.”
The Global Capitalism Lecture Series is an ongoing collaboration between BB&T and COBE to stimulate thought and discussion about capitalism, the tenets of free enterprise and the best practices of successful organizations.