"Redefining the Center," a talk by Ajay Nair, senior vice president and dean of Campus Life, kicks off this year's Good Life Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. in the Few Multipurpose Room. The event is free and open to all. Refreshments will be provided.

In a video introducing his lecture, Nair reflects that a good life is not lived in isolation.

"I think the good life for me is really about cultural humility. I think about the great power we have in our ability to connect with other people. … As we engage with other people, I think it opens up a new world for us," he says. "I think we quickly recognize how interconnected we all are and how that interconnectedness can really help us realize our full potential and lead a good life."

Nair says he sees his talk as an opportunity to be authentic, show people who he is and inspire others to share their stories. He references a speech by Greg Ellison, an associate professor in Candler School of Theology, who asked the student audience to consider "who am I, who am I not, what does it mean to die a good death."

"Those are the kinds of questions I'm going to struggle with, the grapple with in a very public way," says Nair, who views his role as supporting students in reaching their full potential and having a sense of belonging.

The Good Life Lecture Series is sponsored by Flourish Emory with the aim of facilitating a meaningful exchange of ideas on how to lead the "good life," based on Aristotle's concept of eudaimonia, meaning the highest human good involving virtue and the realization of one's potential.

The series was launched last year as one part of Flourish Emory, an outgrowth of Emory's Healthy Campus Initiative. Flourish Emory, from the Office of Health Promotion, is a wide-reaching program that aims to expand definitions of student success, embrace wellness and influence Emory culture.

At its launch, Heather Zesiger, director of the Office of Health Promotion, explained, "We're looking at health as a comprehensive quality that lets a person achieve their full potential. It's not all about working until you drop, it's about embracing resiliency and coping and recognizing that there are resources to help."

For more information on Thursday's event, contact Melissa Engel. View previous "Good Life" lectures here.