St. Norbert College announces that Dr. Francis Collins, internationally renowned physician‑scientist and former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will serve as the 2026 Chu Distinguished Lecturer. Dr. Collins will present Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. in Walter Theatre in the Abbot Pennings Hall of Fine Arts.

His lecture, “The Laboratory and the Cathedral: Both Can Be Places of Worship,” explores the relationship between science and faith, drawing from his own journey from atheism to Christianity and his distinguished career in biomedical research. Dr. Collins is best known for leading the Human Genome Project and serving as the longest‑tenured NIH director under three U.S. presidents. The lecture is free and open to the public, with advance registration required. A reception and book signing will follow in Michels Ballroom. For more information on the day of events visit here.

Earlier that day, St. Norbert College will host the 2026 Chu Lecture Student Research Forum from 2-4 p.m. on the first floor of Mulva Library, featuring student research from St. Norbert College and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Media are welcome to attend both the research forum and evening lecture. Media must RSVP in advance to Morgan Bobinski at morgan.bobinski@snc.edu or 920‑403‑3048. As a private institution situated on private property, St. Norbert College requires all media inquiries and campus visits to be coordinated through the Office of Marketing and Communications to protect the privacy and safety of students, faculty and staff. Members of the media should first report to SNC Campus Safety to sign in and receive a media pass. Media will then be escorted onto campus.