Connect Learning with Living
Connect your curiosity in the classroom to the individual and social elements of daily life. Imagine and evaluate your ethical responsibilities. Discover how to align your values with community action.
The Luther College Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (The CEPE, pronounced “The Keep”) designs opportunities to help you become an informed, engaged, and critical thinking global citizen. Experience one of our public events, join a book group, or partner with The CEPE in community outreach.
Guiding Principles of the Center
The CEPE:
- Emphasizes interdisciplinary inquiry. The CEPE engages the Luther and broader community in conversation to better understand issues of public concern.
- Focuses on public engagement and consideration of what active citizenship means and requires.
Book Group for "America, USA" by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.
In America, USA, celebrated intellectual Eddie S. Glaude Jr. offers a riveting account of the vicious cycles of American history framed by our national anniversaries. In these celebrations of America’s founding, Glaude locates the pernicious reinforcement of a mythology meant to obscure the dark truths of the country.
In preparation for Dr. Glaude’s visit to campus, join us for a one-time book group, Thursday, Nov. 5th at 9:45 in Olin 214. Books provided by The CEPE.
Join Goup
The Podeia Podcast
Produced in partnership with KWLC, Podeia explores local stories at the intersection of ethics, place, and public life. Season 3 tells the story of the Kennedy family, a 19th-century African American family in Decorah.
Listen Here!Author Stephen Graham Jones speaking on "The Social Roles of Horror."
Join award-winning, best-selling author Stephen Graham Jones as he talks about the roles that horror fiction can play in disinterring history, returning the repressed, facing fears, and having a weird kind of fun in the process. Dr. Jones will explore horror fiction through his own work–astonishing novels like The Only Good Indians and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, short story collections like States of Grace, and the graphic novel Earthdivers–as well as other horror classics, obscure gems, and future hauntings.
Thursday, Oct. 29th at 7pm in the CFL Recital Hall
Reserve Your Free TicketYear in review at The CEPE
Learn about events across campus supported or planned by The CEPE.
Meet The CEPE Faculty Research Fellow
The 2025–2027 Research Fellow is Associate Professor of Management Hongxiao Yu. Her research explores how users perceive and trust AI in decision-making contexts, particularly in hospitality, tourism, and education. She investigates the ethical challenges and human factors that influence AI adoption and misuse, with the goal of promoting transparency, informed use, and public trust. During her fellowship, she will conduct interviews and surveys, develop a theoretical framework on AI trust, and engage the campus through guest speakers, student research, and public events.
Save the Date
The CEPE Funding
The CEPE offers funding for conferences, seminars, on-campus programming, visiting lecturers and faculty research.
Learn about funding opportunities