College & Theater Events

<p>Following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Luke Russert stands out among the new generation of American journalists, offering fresh insights on topics ranging from contemporary politics to navigating personal loss.</p><p>Luke Russert, an Emmy-winning former network news correspondent with a distinguished eight-year career primarily focused on American politics, took a courageous leap beyond the realms of conventional success.

<p>A history-making cultural icon, ballet dancer Misty Copeland shares her inspiring life journey—from living in a motel room with her five siblings to becoming the first Black principal dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in the company’s 75-year history. </p><p>When Misty discovered ballet, she was living in a shabby motel room, struggling with her five siblings for a place to sleep on the floor.

<p>A social media star known as “The Moody Foody,” Toni Chapman loves traveling and sharing her culinary secrets and experiences with audiences. </p><p>Toni Chapman draws her inspirations for recipes from her Afro-Latina heritage and homestyle foods she grew up with. When she’s not in the kitchen, Toni loves to travel and experience new cultures.

Considered the greatest chess player that ever lived, Russian world champion Garry Kasparov shares insights on strategy, innovation, leadership, and risk. 

Garry Kasparov is widely regarded as the greatest chess player in history, becoming the youngest world champion ever at 22 in 1985 and spending twenty years as the world’s top-rated player. His legendary matches against the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in 1996 and 1997 made him a central figure in artificial intelligence and the evolution of the human-machine relationship. 

<p>A trailblazer in autism advocacy and a world-renowned animal behaviorist, Temple Grandin shares her insights on embracing and learning differences, and how animal behavior can help us solve human problems.</p><p>Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and has a successful career consulting on both livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare.

<p>Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, <em>Why Are All the</em></p><p><em>Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?</em> and Other Conversations About Race as well as Can</p><p>We Talk About Race? and Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation.

<p>Halim Flowers shares his transformational journey while incarcerated for 22 years, helping audiences overcome their obstacles and find their purpose.  </p><p>In 1997, Halim Flowers was arrested at the age of 16 and given two life sentences. His experiences were filmed in the Emmy award-winning documentary <em>Thug Life In DC</em>. During his incarceration, Halim discovered a love for literature and the arts, and began writing, painting, and freestyle-rapping.

<p>Celebrated TV personality, radio host, and longtime newspaper columnist Michael Smerconish provides a refreshingly independent and balanced perspective to the world of political commentary and current affairs. </p><p>Michael Smerconish is on a mission to restore civility and compromise to our public discourse. For three decades he’s had a front-row seat to the increase in polarization that has gripped the nation.

<p>As a passionate leader in the global fight against inequity, injustice, hate crimes, and all forms of pain Arndrea Waters King has worked tirelessly on behalf of those who have been marginalized by helping them find — and collectively use — their voices for change.</p><p>Early in her career, Arndrea had the unique opportunity to be mentored by Dr. C.T. Vivian, a lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

<p>Yolanda Renee King has passionately addressed mass gatherings in protests against gun violence, homelessness and inhumane treatment of refugees seeking asylum on the U.S. southern border. She also cares deeply about environmental injustice and protecting our planet. </p><p>When she met with President Obama in the Oval Office at the tender age of 4, Yolanda Renee asked him, “Mr.