The 2009-10 Willis M. Tate distinguished lecture series will bring an Oscar winner, former moon- walking astronaut, an associate justice to the Supreme Court and a fashionista to the Hilltop.

“The Tate Lecture Series brings North Texas the opportunity to hear from national and international leaders and provides SMU with significant financial support for scholarships and student programs,” said Brad E. Cheves, SMU vice president for development and external affairs.

To start off its 28th year, the Tate series will feature a panel discussion in the Linda and Mitch Hart lecture on Sept. 8. Panelists will include Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and best-selling author Thomas Friedman. Opposite him will be Fareed Zakaria –  Editor of Newsweek International and host of CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS.”

The Lacerte Family lecture on Nov. 17 will feature Christopher Buckley – political satirist and author of the best-selling “Supreme Courtship” and “Thank You for Smoking.”

On a date yet to be announced, the Omni Hotels Lecture will feature Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Thomas was the second African-American appointed to the bench in 1991.

To round out the semester on Dec. 8, students will be able to give audience to Apollo 11 astronaut and the second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin. He will be commemorating the 40th anniversary of the historic Apollo moon landing.

The series brings in more than $1 million to the university annually.

The spring semester Tate series brings fashion industry leader Kenneth Cole to SMU on April 6, and Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton to finish the series on May 4.

“Every season, the Tate Lecture Series announces a group of intellectually stimulating and engaging speakers who reflect the high standards of SMU,” said Terdema L. Ussery II, chairman of the Tate Lecture Series board of directors. “Once again, our lineup of innovators and leaders represents a variety of fields that build and shape the world around us.”

Cheves added that “through the Turner Construction Student Forum question-and-answer sessions, we are pleased to provide thousands of area high-school and middle-school students the opportunity to ask questions and hear from these legendary leaders.”

The series is free of cost to students with a limited supply of tickets.