College & Theater Events

<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

<p>NPR’s iconic Nina Totenberg shines a light on the inner workings of our nation&#39;s highest court and helps audiences understand the impact of history-making judicial cases on America’s future.</p><p>The legendary journalist and Supreme Court doyenne Nina Totenberg is, according to <em>The Washington Post</em>, “the best-known and most respected legal affairs reporter in America.”</p><p>An award-winning correspondent with more than 40 years’ experience at National Public Radio, Totenberg can be heard regularly on NPR’s <em>All Things C

<p>Noted progressive Sally Kohn and conservative Tara Setmayer bring their spirited debate from television broadcasts to live audiences to tackle some of the biggest issues of the day. In unique and engaging presentations, Kohn and Setmayer offer valuable insight and thought-provoking perspective on partisan issues ranging from climate change and Wall Street largesse to Black Lives Matter and tax cuts.

<p>Frank Warren demonstrates the power of sharing your hopes, dreams, fears and failures and how PostSecret became the catalyst for his passionate commitment to mental health advocacy.</p><p>What started as a community mail art project in which people anonymously share never-before-voiced secrets has since captured our collective imagination and evolved into a worldwide phenomenon.

<p>Retired Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva shares his powerful story of coming out as a gay man in the armed forces as well as his ardent advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.</p><p>The first American soldier injured in the Iraq War, Eric was hailed as an American hero. While he lost his leg in combat, his spirit remained stronger than ever — upon retirement, Eric came out as gay.

<p>David Baldacci enthralls as he brings stories from the page to the stage, with insight into his celebrated career as a best-selling novelist and his passion and advocacy for literacy. </p><p>David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide.

<p>Filmmaker and Human rights activist, Barbara Martinez Jitner, is the inspiration for the Jennifer Lopez film <i>Bordertown</i>. Martinez Jitner posed as a worker in a factory on the Mexican border in order to uncover a dark world of grueling poverty and sexual abuse that has led to over 400 women being murdered in the border town of Juarez, Mexico.

<p>Barbara Corcoran shares her inspiring rags-to-riches story and the secrets to success that led her to the top of her industry. </p>

<p>In 1973, Barbara borrowed $1,000 from her boyfriend, quit waitressing and started a real estate company in New York City called The Corcoran Group. Over the years, she parlayed that loan into a premiere $5 billion-dollar real estate business.</p>