College & Theater Events

<p>One of Forbes’ “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” and <i>TIME’s</i> “100 Most Influential People in the World,” Ertharin Cousin leads the fight to end global hunger – and inspires others to join this critical humanitarian relief effort.</p><p>A globally respected voice on a range of national and international political and humanitarian issues and operations, Ertharin is widely sought for her expertise on food, hunger, community development, and resilience strategies.

<p>Dr. Frank Leon Roberts is an activist, professor, and political organizer based in Harlem, New York. The proud son of two formerly incarcerated parents, he is currently an Assistant Professor at Amherst College.</p><p>Roberts is the founder of Black Lives Matter Syllabus—the nationally acclaimed, open access curriculum that provides resources for teaching BLM in classroom and community settings.

<p>As the creator of the viral hashtag-turned-movement, #OscarsSoWhite , April Reign has been challenging the lack of representation of marginalized communities in Hollywood and beyond since 2015. </p><p>April practiced law for nearly twenty years, honing her talent for public speaking, persuasive writing and effecting policy change, but it wasn’t until she walked away from her legal practice that she found her true passion.

<p>Jim Obergefell draws from his unique experience at the heart of the Supreme Court marriage equality ruling to move and empower audiences to stand by their beliefs—and prove that love always wins. </p><p>A self-described accidental activist, Jim found himself in the role of caregiver for his partner of more than 20 years, John, as he neared the end of his life due to ALS. An unexpected series of events led to their decision to marry, eventually taking Jim to the Supreme Court and the landmark decision in Obergefell v.

<p>Tina Tchen shares hope, ideas and strategies that inspire others to recognize the power of diverse teams and keep equality on the forefront of the global agenda.</p><p>Now the Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Policy Officer for the Obama Foundation, Tina Tchen served previously as Chief of Staff to the First Lady, Special Assistant to President Barack Obama and Executive Director of the Council on Women and Girls. She led the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families as well as the first-ever United State of Women Summit.

<p>NASA astronaut Captain Jim Lovell delivers an exhilarating firsthand account of one of the most famous and harrowing ordeals in space-program history, while sharing the leadership skills necessary to make any mission successful.</p><p>As leader of the Apollo 13 mission, Captain Jim Lovell uttered the famous phrase “Houston, we have a problem,” after an oxygen tank exploded inside the spacecraft. Under Capt. Lovell’s leadership, the crew returned safely to earth.</p><p>For his courageous spirit, Capt.

<p>Brian Mosteller – formerly the all-knowing eyes and ears of the President – takes you inside the West Wing to deliver inspiring yet relatable insights on succeeding in high-stakes environments. </p><p>Brian has had a front row seat to one of the significant historical eras of our lifetime – the presidency of Barack Obama – for whom he served during the entire eight-year administration.

<p>Judy Shepard draws from personal tragedy to promote a greater understanding of LGBTQ issues and empower audiences to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach and advocacy in their own communities.</p><p>In 1998, Judy lost her son Matthew to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate that shocked and captivated the nation. Turning tragedy into a crusade for justice, this leading voice in the LGBTQ rights movement has since established The Matthew Shepard Foundation to carry on her son’s legacy.

<p>Linda Greenlaw illustrates her approach to effective leadership amid volatility and the critical importance of preparation and extreme risk-taking in any setting.</p>

<p>Linda’s incomparable skill as a fishing-boat captain was first documented in Sebastian Junger’s <i>The Perfect Storm</i>, the best-selling book-turned-blockbuster movie that exposed the hazards faced by deep-sea commercial fishers.</p>

<p>Nadine Strossen is a leading expert in constitutional law and human rights and former President of the American Civil Liberties Union who speaks on free speech, intellectual freedom and civil discourse.</p><p>A former national President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a constitutional law professor, she is a leading political liberal who advocates for classical liberal values. She is serving as host for a three-part PBS series about free speech, to air in 2023. </p><p>Her 2018 book, <em>HATE: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, N