College & Theater Events

<p>Jessica Pressler is a contributing editor at <i>Vanity Fai</i>r.

<p>Autumn Rose (Miskweminanocsqua, Raspberry Star Woman) Williams is a strategic communicator, public speaker, and storyteller dedicated to helping audiences explore leadership, identity, resilience, and the power of authentic communication.</p><p>An enrolled citizen of the Shinnecock Nation and a proud Afro-Indigenous woman, Autumn Rose was born and raised on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton, New York.

<p>Michelle Gielan has spent the past decade researching the link between happiness and success. She is the bestselling author of <i>Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change</i> and was named one of the Top 10 authors on resilience by the <i>Harvard Business Review</i>. </p><p>Michelle holds an advanced degree in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an Executive Producer of <i>The Happiness Advantage </i>on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course.

<p>Growing up in inner-city Newark, New Jersey, Sampson Davis and two friends made a pact to “beat the street” and become doctors—and they did it.</p><p>Today, Dr. Sampson Davis is a board-certified ER physician who has appeared on numerous talk and radio shows including <i>Oprah</i>, <i>CNN</i>, <i>The Today Show</i>, <i>Dr. Oz</i>, <i>Anderson Cooper 360</i>, <i>The View</i>, <i>Tavis Smiley</i> and <i>NPR</i>.

<p>From the global economy, war in Ukraine, and U.S.-China relations to the 2024 elections and the increasing polarization of America, former Ambassador Scott Brown helps audiences consider what’s next and what the impact on business and the economy will be.</p><p>An established conservative leader and strong believer in collaboration, Senator Brown rose to national prominence when he succeeded Ted Kennedy as the first Republican elected to the U.S Senate from Massachusetts in more than 40 years.

<p>Shaquem Griffin, the first one-handed former NFL linebacker in history, played four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2022.</p><p> Now a sought-after motivational speaker, he has inspired D1 Power 4 programs, pro teams, Fortune 500 companies, and more, around the world. He serves as an Advisor for a Venture Capitol, BIG12 Alumni Counsel Member, and startup advisor. Co-founder of Consumer Launch Pad and Y.O.U.

<p>Inclusive leadership expert Lee Jourdan explains why workplace diversity gives organizations a competitive advantage, and offers concrete solutions for leveraging it amid the changing landscape.</p><p>Though data shows more diverse companies outperform their less diverse competitors, DEI efforts face growing challenges—from rulings against affirmative action to the current administration’s rollback of DEI initiatives. So what does this mean for the future of DEI?

<p>Weijia Jiang is CBS News' senior White House correspondent based in Washington, D.C. Jiang's reporting is featured across all CBS News broadcasts and platforms, including the "<i>CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell</i>," "<i>CBS Mornings</i>" and <i>CBSN</i>, CBS News' 24/7 streaming news service.</p><p> Jiang has covered the White House beat since 2018, including the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations.

<p>C. Dixon Osburn is the Executive Director of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, United States, a global NGO focused on strengthening democracy against the rising tide of extremism, hate and disinformation.

<p>Ginger Kerrick is Chief Strategy Officer for Barrios Technology, a small woman-owned human spaceflight company in Houston, Texas.  </p><p>Prior to joining the Barrios executive team, Ginger served in multiple senior leadership roles at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) before retiring in 2021 including Deputy Director of the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate and JSC Assistant Center Director for Vision and Strategy. She spent the majority of her 30-year NASA career supporting JSC’s Flight Operations Directorate (FOD) in leadership roles, including Assistan