Guilford College students, faculty and staff were informed of the discontinuation of the Bryan Series in an email announcement sent out by Chief Communications Officer Ty Buckner on Tuesday, March 24. 

The Bryan Series is a speaker series that has brought world-renowned figures in leadership and activism to Guilford’s campus and the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Greensboro for nearly 30 years. 

In the announcement, Buckner said the decision was difficult for Guilford leadership to make, but is ultimately in the interest of increasing financial stewardship. 

“After COVID, participation by subscribers and sponsors declined, making it increasingly difficult to operate the series in the black,” he said. “Guilford’s top priority is to be the best possible steward of its finances.” 

Over the series’ 20 subscription seasons, students directly engaged with cultural icons and leadership figures, including former President Bill Clinton, Toni Morrison, Captain Sully Sullivan, Venus Williams and Margaret Atwood. 

The announcement has sparked disappointment and concern among students, who worry about student experience weakening after the Bryan Series comes to an end. 

Jaye Wilson, a student who co-moderated the LeVar Burton student session event, believes that the discontinuation of the Bryan Series is a choice that does not reflect the unique spirit of Guilford College. 

“It was something for people to really look forward to on campus,” said Wilson. “Even if I didn’t personally know who the speaker was, there was always someone on campus who did and was really excited about it.” 

Third-year student August Hutchins said he was able to show his ethical leadership presentation on chef and humanitarian José Andrés to Andrés himself, during a Bryan Series event in 2023. 

“I asked some questions firsthand, and I brought my presentation poster board to him at the end, took a picture with him, and he was able to sign my board,” said Hutchins. “He wrote ‘10 out of 10. Great job.’”

Hutchins said that Bryan Series experiences like his were unique and brought the community together, experiences that incoming Guilford students will be missing out on.

“It’s going to be disappointing that they’re going to miss out and not be able to be in the same room as these special guests and speakers,” Hutchins said. 

As a tour guide, Wilson said that the legacy of the Bryan Series piqued the interest of touring students and parents, bringing vital enthusiasm for the school and events. Excitement about the Bryan Series reached far off of Guilford’s campus, with the event becoming a staple in the greater Greensboro community. 

“I was at the Civil Rights Museum a month or so ago and someone was talking to me about the LeVar Burton event,” Wilson said. “People around the community love and look forward to the Bryan Series.”

Second-year student Zaria Porter said it would have been valuable if decision makers had gauged student opinion on the Bryan Series before the discontinuation. 

“This is our college experience, it’s important to at least check in with the students or see how they feel,” she said. 

Porter said the encouragement for Bryan Series attendance was present throughout campus and classrooms. 

“Faculty would always encourage us to go,” she said, “whether it would be in leadership programs or just my professors in class.”

The disappointment among students after the announcement is paired with an understanding of Guilford’s necessity for financial stewardship and a hope for possibilities in the future. 

“It’s sad to see the Bryan Series go, but at the same time, I understand why,” Porter said. “I just hope that the Guilford community at least looks for avenues for keeping that same connection to people who are successful or who students might relate to.” 

Wilson said that permanently removing the Bryan Series, or similar events, from Guilford’s community would have a negative impact overall. 

“I think that it would be a net negative to the college and a net negative to the student experience if this wasn’t a thing that came back in some sort of way,” they said. 

Guilford College’s Director of Communications Robert Bell said the Bryan Series is worth celebrating and that college officials will take into consideration possibilities in the future. 

“We’re exploring and looking at ways to bring different voices onto the campus,” he said. 

The final Bryan Series event, featuring actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd, will take place on Tuesday, April 8.