Elizabethtown College will host Disney’s “High School Musical” star Monique Coleman on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. for the annual Leffler Lecture in Leffler Chapel & Performance Center. Coleman is an award-winning actress, producer, and humanitarian who serves as a passionate advocate for youth and social justice.
Coleman will present her lecture, “We’re All in This Together,” where she will share her personal journey from actress to changemaker, offering practical steps to help audiences achieve their dreams while addressing pressing issues facing youth today.
During the event, Coleman will also engage in a conversation led by Jordan Steffy, an Elizabethtown College Board of Trustee, venture partner at Tekfen Ventures, and founder of the Attollo Program – a college access and leadership development program for high school students in Lancaster County. Coleman will also take questions from the audience and be available following the lecture for a meet-and-greet opportunity.
At only 27, Coleman rose to fame as Taylor McKessie in Disney’s “High School Musical,” but her greatest impact has been off-screen. A passionate advocate for youth and social justice, she became the United Nations’ first-ever Youth Champion for the International Year of Youth, traveling to 24 countries to address education, human rights, and civic leadership. Through her Emmy-nominated docuseries “Gimme Mo’” and her global outreach, Monique has created platforms that inspire and empower young voices.
As a part of this year’s Leffler Lecture program, the College will celebrate Lisa Groff ’84, the 2025-26 Educate For Service: Service to the College Award recipient. The Educate for Service Awards are the highest honors bestowed upon alumni by Elizabethtown College and the Elizabethtown College Alumni Association.
Coleman will serve as the first of three internationally known speakers as part of this year’s 2025-26 Elizabethtown College Lecture Series. The Leffler Lecture is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
The Leffler Lecture is made possible by a generous endowed gift from Linda ’67, H’03 and Patrick Castagna.