As USF week approaches, the Tampa campus is preparing to welcome its second and last university lecture series speakers for the spring semester, actors Kate Flannery and Leslie David Baker. 

The pair are best known for their roles as Meredith and Stanley in the Emmy Award-winning American sitcom series “The Office.” 

The lecture will take place on Tuesday from 8-9 p.m. in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom. Although it is not required, students can register for the free event through BullsConnect. There are 226 attendees pre-registered for the event as of Sunday, according to BullsConnect. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m.

Flannery and Baker were a part of “The Office” ensemble that won them not only the 2006 Outstanding Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award, but also two Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2007 and 2008 among several other notable awards.

The actors have also had notable appearances in other hit television shows such as “Young Sheldon,” “Steven Universe,” “That ‘70s Show” and “Malcolm in the Middle.”  

In July 2020, Baker launched a kickstarter campaign to help fund a spin-off centered around his character. The goal is to raise $300,000. Baker’s “Office” spinoff is titled “Uncle Stan: Coming Out of Retirement.”

For USF Week’s lecture, Flannery and Baker will focus on inspiring USF students through their experiences with “The Office” and other acting pursuits, according to Center of Student Involvement (CSI) graduate assistant for programs Hannah Sutherland. 

Flannery and Baker are being paid a combined $40,000 by the Center of Student Involvement (CSI). Due to the rising cost of speakers, airfare and other components of bringing notable people to campus, the CSI has had to be strategic about when and how often the university hosts ULS events, according to Sutherland. 

For this reason, she said USF was only able to host two lectures last semester and two this semester, as opposed to the three or four lecture events they have hosted in previous semesters. Though CSI is still navigating these cost challenges, Sutherland said the team dedicates their time to figuring out how to continue building ULS events that are worthwhile for students.