On Monday, Feb. 16, the Department of Nutrition and Health Science hosted the 38th guest speaker in the annual McGovern Lecture Series.
The McGovern Lecture Series honors recipients of the McGovern Award for their Contributions to Public Health. Their lecture at Ball State gives the community an opportunity to learn from the honoree’s insights and experiences.

The L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom was filled with students, faculty and community members, all eager to attend the fireside chat with guest speaker Alex M. Azar II.

Azar has vast experience in both the private and governmental sectors of healthcare leadership. His extensive experience includes his work as deputy secretary and general counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as president of Lilly USA. Azar also served as the 24th U.S. secretary of HHS from 2018 to 2021.

While serving as HHS secretary, he worked to advance public health initiatives, such as the national plan to end the HIV epidemic, reduce youth tobacco and e-cigarette usage, and Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

Azar offered insights into his time as HHS secretary, highlighting the many initiatives the department championed under his leadership, especially Operation Warp Speed, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nobody had ever come from a drug company to be the health secretary.” Azar said, “but I think it was providential, because [of] knowing how the drug development and manufacturing process work in the minds of CEOs and boards of pharmaceutical companies.”

The time he spent as HHS secretary shaped outcomes for many people during the global pandemic, and the insights he shared with the Ball State community are sure to help shape the students who attended the lecture.