College & Theater Events

<p>Chosen by Oprah's O Magazine as one of 20 women on the first "O Power List," Mayda del Valle has been described by the Chicago Sun-Times as having, "a way with words." Indeed, the powerhouse performance poet does.</p>

<p>A key actor in the Liberian peace movement in the early 2000s, Leymah Gbowee has established herself as an international symbol of peaceful conflict resolution and the power of women as leaders and agents of change.

<p>As the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Naomi Tutu struggled to find her own place in the world. As a human rights advocate, she pulls from her personal challenges of growing up black and female in apartheid South Africa.</p><p>The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu knew from early in life that the one thing she would never be is a priest. She has always said, “I have my father’s nose, I do not want his job” However, after years spent as a development consultant, educator and race and gender activist she accepted her call to ordained ministry.

<p>Gain a new and humbling perspective of success, adversity, leadership and perseverance as John Bul Dau reveals his story from South Sudanese refugee to prominent human rights advocate and entrepreneur.</p><p>Born in war-torn South Sudan, John was just 13 when he faced starvation, disease and violence as one of 27,000 boys driven from their villages during the country’s brutal civil war in 1987. Bravely leading displaced boys across Sudan for hundreds of miles, he eventually arrived in Kenya, and immigrated to the United States in 2001.

<p>Chris Mooney writes about energy and the environment at <i>The Washington Post</i>. In May of 2020, Mooney and his staff won the Explanatory Reporting Pulitzer Prize for their groundbreaking series that showed with scientific clarity the dire effects of extreme temperatures on the planet.</p><p>Mooney previously worked at <i>Mother Jones</i>, where he wrote about science and the environment and hosted a weekly podcast.

<p>America's most popular humorist for over two decades, Dave Barry is a best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist. His witty, critically acclaimed weekly column was a staple in several hundred newspapers nationwide for more than 20 years.

<p>Bob Woodward gained international attention when he and Carl Bernstein uncovered the Watergate scandal in 1973. Since then, he’s worked to shine a light on the inner-workings of secret government. Woodward’s factual, non-partisan revelations to readers and speech audiences provide a view of Washington they’ll never get elsewhere. Woodward has written about the last ten U.S. presidents and chronicled how the power of the presidency has evolved. He is author of 23 bestselling books – 17 went to #1 – more than any contemporary nonfiction writer.

<p>Chris Wallace breaks down today’s top news issues and their impact on individuals and industry, sharing takeaways that prepare audiences for changes in the political landscape. </p><p>Wallace is a former CNN anchor and the host of <em>Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?</em> on HBO Max.

<p>Edward James Olmos is more than an award-winning actor—he is a cultural icon whose voice carries the weight of history, artistry, and activism.</p><p> From his Academy Award–nominated role in Stand and Deliver to unforgettable performances in <em>Selena, Blade Runner, </em>and <em>Battlestar Galactica</em>, Olmos has built one of the most enduring legacies in Hollywood. But his story extends far beyond the screen.

<p>Grandson of the legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Fabien Cousteau is building an “International Space Station of the Ocean”</p><p>Aquanaut, documentary filmmaker, co-founder and chairman of PROTEUS™, his name is synonymous with ocean exploration. Today, Fabien Cousteau continues to fulfill his family’s legacy of protecting and preserving the planet’s endangered marine inhabitants and habitats.