College & Theater Events

<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>

<p>Anderson Cooper takes audiences inside the news of the day, sharing sometimes provocative yet always eye-opening insights on the stories impacting people and issues around the world.</p><p>As the anchor of the Emmy-winning CNN news program Anderson Cooper 360°, he brings the most pressing stories of the day to a worldwide audience from multiple perspectives.

<p>Named one of the top 50 political commentators in America by<em> The Atlantic magazine,</em> Jonah Goldberg’s informed and thoughtful perspectives spark indispensable dialogue and debate. He was a Fox News contributor for over a decade. In 2021 he left Fox News to become a political commentator for CNN.</p><p>Jonah is the former Senior Editor of <em>National Review magazine, </em>a nationally syndicated columnist, and co-founder of <em>The Dispatch,</em> a new media platform he launched in October (2019) with Steve Hayes.

<p>One of the most recognized leaders of the gay and lesbian civil rights movement, gay rights activist and diversity speaker Elizabeth Birch served as executive director of the Human Rights Campaign for over a decade.</p><p>During her tenure, the organization quadrupled in size to become the leading civil rights organization of its kind. Birch has also served as worldwide director of litigation for Apple Computer, Inc.

Keith Boykin is a national political commentator, TV and film producer, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton. His latest books are Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America (2021), Quitting: Why I Left My Job to Live a Life of Freedom (2022) and Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race? (2024).

<p>Drawing from his 30 years of political service, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle is one of the country’s foremost experts on the issues surrounding healthcare, healthcare reform and our healthcare delivery system. His knowledge of disease outbreaks and pandemics, and their impact on the healthcare system and economy, are of great relevance in today’s world. </p><p>As the architect of President Obama&#39;s healthcare plan, Senator Daschle is especially well-informed about the law’s evolution and implementation.

<p>Long known as a speaker who inspires with narratives that demonstrate the power of one, Kerry Kennedy addresses sustainable investments, social change, and the capacity of the human spirit to thrive despite overwhelming obstacles.  </p>

<p>History-making NASA astronaut and the extraordinary subject of a forthcoming feature documentary, <em>Spacewoman</em>, Eileen Collins reveals encouraging perspective and insight on the leadership skills needed to break barriers and become a successful pioneer in your field.</p><p>One of America’s most admired women, Col. Collins became the first female to pilot a U.S. spacecraft with the Discovery shuttle flight in 1995, and the first female commander on the 1999 Columbia shuttle flight. In 2005, NASA tapped Col.