Campus Speakers & Headliners (U)

Since winning her gold medal for swimming in 2012, embarking on her broadcasting career with ESPN, and gracing the dance floor of Hollywood, Victoria Arlen has been sharing with audiences her BREAKTHROUGH FORMULA for overcoming even life’s darkest challenges.

Victoria was 11 years old when she came down with a rare viral disease, Transverse Myelitis, with which she battled for five years, including four years in a vegetative coma. The disease left her without the use of her legs for nearly a decade.

<p>Praised by <em>Entertainment Weekly</em> for her “deft exploration” of character, Dominique Thorne shares stories from her inspiring career on stage and screen.</p><p>Most recently seen in the Sundance 2024 hit <em>Freaky Tales</em> alongside Pedro Pascal, Tom Hanks, and Ben Mendelsohn, Dominique Thorne is a rising star of her generation.

<p>Known for playing sassy, snarky, strong-willed women on television, Elizabeth Gillies shares anecdotes from her inspiring acting and singing career.</p><p>After rising to fame in her mid-teens as Jade West on the Nickelodeon sitcom <em>Victorious,</em> Gillies made the transition to playing similarly rebellious adult characters, co-starring as Denis Leary’s daughter in his musical comedy<em> Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll</em> and reimagining the role of Fallon Carrington in the CW’s modern-day reboot of <em>Dynasty.</em> In 20

<p>Sharing his inspiring story of unwavering determination, Nicolas Hamilton helps individuals and organizations overcome obstacles, stay resilient through change, and embrace failure to achieve success.</p><p>Born with cerebral palsy, Nicolas Hamilton was told as a young child he’d spend his life reliant on a wheelchair. Not one to be told he can’t do things, Nicolas endured years of grueling, painful training so that by the age of 17 he could walk completely unaided.

<p>With humor and empathy, Billie Lee shares her unique story to help individuals and groups combat microaggressions, amplify authenticity, and bring awareness to the LGBTQIA+ community.</p><p>Billie Lee is a transgender woman, actor, standup comedian, writer, producer, and activist. LogoTV named Billie as a 2018 honoree of Logo30 for raising awareness for the trans community. She was the first openly transgender cast member on BravoTV’s<em> Vanderpump Rules</em> and she continues to be an advocate and outspoken voice for the LGBTQIA+ community.

A history-making cultural icon, ballet dancer Misty Copeland shares her inspiring life journey—from living in a motel room with her five siblings to becoming the first Black principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in the company’s 75-year history. 

<p>A social media star known as “The Moody Foody,” Toni Chapman loves traveling and sharing her culinary secrets and experiences with audiences. </p><p>Toni Chapman draws her inspirations for recipes from her Afro-Latina heritage and homestyle foods she grew up with. When she’s not in the kitchen, Toni loves to travel and experience new cultures.

<p>A trailblazer in autism advocacy and a world-renowned animal behaviorist, Temple Grandin shares her insights on embracing and learning differences, and how animal behavior can help us solve human problems.</p><p>Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and has a successful career consulting on both livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare.

<p>Sharing insights from her incredible career, Kerri Walsh Jennings inspires audiences to unlock their potential and conquer any challenges standing in their way. </p><p>Kerri Walsh Jennings is a 5 time Olympian, 3 time Olympic gold medalist, 1 time bronze medalist in beach volleyball. She was a 4 time 1st Team All-American at Stanford University where her teams won 2 National Championships (‘96, ‘97) and finished runner-up in ‘99.

<p>The very personification of courage, optimism, and resilience, former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords shares her remarkable story on stage, joined by her renowned speech pathologist, Dr. Fabi Hirsch Kruse. </p><p>Gabby Giffords’ story of perseverance and hope is unparalleled. The youngest woman ever to serve in the Arizona State Senate and a trailblazer in other offices, Gabby became a rising star on the national stage after being elected to the U.S. Congress in 2006.