Members of the Reed community are invited to a lunch conversation with Barret Hansen '63, aka Dr. Demento. The event is open to all current Reed students, faculty, and staff, but space is limited to the first 20 people who sign up. This event is NOT open to the public. Make your reservation here no later than 3pm on Tuesday, October 7th.

Hansen is a pioneering music host, producer, writer, and ethnomusicologist known for his encyclopedic knowledge of novelty songs, comedy, and unusual recordings dating back to the earliest days of phonograph records. His syndicated program, The Dr. Demento Show, began airing in 1971, eventually broadcasting on more than 200 stations at the height of its popularity. The show helped spark a revival of interest in vintage novelty hits and launched the careers of many artists, most notably Weird Al Yankovic. Now produced online, the show continues to engage new generations of listeners.

Hansen is the recipient of the 2025 Thomas Lamb Eliot Award for Lifetime Achievement by a Reed College Graduate, one of the highest honors bestowed by the college, which recognizes alumni whose careers reflect sustained and distinguished achievement and who exemplify the core Reed values of intellectual rigor, independence, and integrity.

(Photo credit: Mark Takeuchi)