Contemporary Issues Forum to welcome Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.)

Overview

Coe’s 2026 Contemporary Issues Forum will be held on February 12, 2026 in Sinclair Auditorium at 7:00 PM. Established by the late K. Raymond Clark '30, the Coe College Contemporary Issues Forum presents the views of distinguished leaders whose work has received national or international recognition.

Our 2026 speaker will be Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) - a leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame – she even has a Star Trek Federation starship named after her, the USS Malachowski (NCC-1619). Nicole’s distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.”

Event Details:

Date: February 12, 2026

Location: Sinclair Auditorium, Coe College

Time: 7:00 PM

Tickets are required in order to attend this event

Additional information:

Can’t attend in person? Livestream tickets are now available for those who would like to watch the program remotely. Purchase your livestream ticket here: https://coeboxoffice.anywhereseat.com/

Please email o-advancement@coe.edu with any further questions regarding the livestream option.

All updates, including weather-related information, will be provided on this page and via email to those who have purchased tickets.

For those needing accomodations, please reach out to 319.399.8555 prior to the event.

For questions, please contact Carley McMains at cmcmains@coe.edu or 319-399-8555.