WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet L. Gooch will discuss the enduring legacy of President Abraham Lincoln during a Thinkers Series event featuring Jacob Friefeld, director of the UIS Center for Lincoln Studies. Friefeld was recently featured as a historical expert on the HBO Max and Magnolia Network series “Back to the Frontier.”

WHEN: 5 p.m. Sept. 15

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium, lower level of Brookens Library at UIS (visitor parking available in Lot B)

DETAILS: Friefeld will guide the audience through Lincoln’s life, leadership and how he was perceived in his time. He and Chancellor Gooch will explore the relevance of Lincoln’s principles today, drawing meaningful connections to modern societal challenges. The conversation will invite participants to reflect on how Lincoln might lead, respond or advise in today’s world.

“Back to the Frontier,” currently airing on HBO Max and Magnolia Network, immerses modern families in the realities of 1880s life without phones or electricity. Friefeld appears on the show as a guide, providing historical context and insight into the homesteading experience. He is the author of “Homesteading the Plains” and “The First Migrants.”

The Chancellor’s Thinkers Series is designed to inspire diverse perspectives and encourage intentional thinking. Each session includes a “featured thinker” from a variety of disciplines who engages in meaningful dialogue with Chancellor Gooch on topics tied to their expertise.

The event is free and open to the public.