2026 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Lecture Speaker: Dr. Tanya Golash-Boza

SHERMAN, TEXAS — Austin College will host Dr. Tanya Golash-Boza as the 2026 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Lecture Speaker. Golash-Boza will deliver her presentation, titled “The Deportation Machine: Who Benefits From Immigration Enforcement, and Why It Persists” on Thursday, September 17 from 11 a.m. – noon in Sherman Hall, Hoxie Thompson Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public.

Golash-Boza is the founder of the Racism, Capitalism, and the Law Lab, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced, and Executive Director of the University of California Washington Center. Across more than 50 academic articles and six books, her work has shaped how scholars, students, and the public understand race, immigration, policing, wealth, punishment, and inequality.

For her public scholarship, mentorship, and service, Golash-Boza has received the UC Merced Senate Faculty Award for Distinguished Scholarly Public Service and the UC Merced Senate Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentorship.

The Austin College Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program is an academic program designed to allow students to move beyond a single discipline and engage in an integrated and intentional study of philosophy, political science, and economics in understanding historical events and the relationships between contemporary ideas. Experiences within the PPE Program allow students to develop skills in critical thinking, public speaking, research methodology, argumentation, and problem solving.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.