Rep. Peter DeFazio Annual Lecture
UO Libraries is launching a new annual lecture series in honor of University of Oregon alumnus and retired U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio.
The DeFazio Annual Lecture promotes public knowledge of politics, governance, civic engagement, and social history by spotlighting esteemed speakers with expertise in the policy areas that DeFazio advanced during his congressional career. The series is made possible through partnership with the UO’s Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics and by generous support from the Coquille Indian Tribe.
About Rep. Peter DeFazio
University of Oregon alumnus and retired U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio got his start in public service as a Lane County Commissioner in 1983 and served for 36 years as the U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District. A seasoned politician who has navigated the complexities of government at all levels, DeFazio is known for his expertise on transportation, labor, infrastructure, and natural resource policy. He received a master of arts degree from the University of Oregon and retired from Congress in 2023.
About the Defazio Collection
In 2023, DeFazio donated his archives to the UO Libraries, documenting his 36 years of work representing Oregon’s fourth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. The largest single donation of archives to the Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives, it contains letters, memos, drafts, maps, and other official documents that give students and scholars insight into nearly four decades of political history of Oregon and beyond.
2025 Inaugural Lecture: National Politics with E.J. Dionne, Jr.
Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Time: 5:00–6:15 p.m.
Location: William W. Knight Law Center 175
Join us for the inaugural lecture delivered by E.J. Dionne, Jr., nationally recognized journalist and political commentator for The Washington Post. Dionne is a distinguished government professor at Georgetown University, a visiting professor at Harvard University, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution and a frequent commentator on politics for National Public Radio and MSNBC.
A Lasting Legacy
While we have funding to host this prestigious lecture series for several years, we hope to make it permanent through endowed funds, ensuring that the legacy of public service that DeFazio leaves behind remains accessible and continues to bring value to the public and to our student community long into the future.Help us honor DeFazio’s legacy and promote civic knowledge and education by supporting this lecture series in his name with a gift of your own.