Each fall, the Ethics Institute helps host a symposium event, bringing together a diverse range of professionals to explore a relevant and timely topic. The event continues to grow and become more collaborative, reaching partners across campus to shape perspectives, educate our community and explore intersections of important areas of focus.
Save the date for the 2026 Healthcare and Ethics Symposium, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. The event will serve as a call for candid dialogue and systemic reform, encouraging leaders to move beyond theoretical ethics and toward accountable, equitable systems that serve both diverse patient populations and broader campus communities fairly.
Healthcare is an evolving and complex industry merging cutting-edge medical care with standard business practices and challenges. Through a keynote by renowned bioethicist Mark G. Kuczewski, Ph.D., HEC-C, alongside two targeted panel discussions, the conference examines how ethical values intersect with legal obligations, financial realities, and institutional responsibilities.
This symposium serves as a call for candid dialogue and systemic reform, encouraging leaders to move beyond theoretical ethics and toward accountable, equitable systems that serve both diverse patient populations and broader campus communities fairly.
Hosted in partnership by:
The Sustainability and Ethics Symposium was held on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, bringing together faculty, staff, students, practitioners, and community members to explore pressing challenges and bold solutions at the intersection of ethics, innovation, and sustainability. This dynamic and interdisciplinary event was hosted by the Ethics Institute, Center for Bioethics and Social Justice, the Center for Ethical and Socially Responsible Leadership, the Frank J. Kelley Institute of Ethics and the Legal Profession, and the Office of Sustainability. The symposium explored ethical sustainability issues from a global perspective, highlighted current research topics, and showcased practices happening on the campus of Michigan State University.
Highlights of the Symposium
For the first time, all four of MSU’s Ethics Centers and Ethics Initiative came together to host the Professional Ethics Symposium on Nov. 11, 2024. The centers partnering to host this event together were the Center for Bioethics and Social Justice, the Center for Ethical and Socially Responsible Leadership, the Frank J. Kelley Institute of Ethics and the Legal Profession, and the Ethics Institute. Together, they gathered professionals, faculty, staff, students, and community members to explore the convergence of leadership, ethics, industry, and professionalism in the workplace.
Highlights of the Symposium
Additional information can be found on the Broad College of Business website.
The Ethics Institute and the Broad College of Business Center for Ethical and Socially Responsible Leadership, with support from the Office of Research and Innovation and the Office of International Studies and Programs, partnered with True Elements to host The Ethics and Water Symposium on Nov. 6, 2023. Together, they explored how C-Suite and Government leaders can tackle water management challenges while creating new opportunities. The symposium was dynamic and multi-faceted, much like water itself.
Highlights of the Symposium
The Ethics of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Conference occurred on Nov. 3, 2022. The featured speaker was JoAnn Stonier from Mastercard, who provided a high-level overview of the ethical issues and challenges she faces in her industry. Scholars from the MSU community also delivered five-minute flash talks to share an overview of their work in big data and artificial intelligence. Flash talks were organized into five thematic panels, with an integrative discussion closing out each panel, which explored various topics ranging from “Bias and Data Sourcing of AI” to “Societal Applications of AI and STEM.”
Highlights of the Conference
View the flash talk speaker abstracts to learn more about discussion topics.
The inaugural MSU Ethics Symposium, held on Oct. 14, 2021, helped further the goal of establishing an MSU Ethics Institute, where leading-edge research in ethical theory shapes global ethical practice and knowledge of ethical practices inform the further development of theory.
Highlights of the Symposium