College & Theater Events

Shaquem Griffin

<p>Shaquem Griffin made history as the NFL’s first-ever one-handed player. Now he inspires others to overcome adversity and persevere.</p><p>Shaquem Griffin was born just minutes after his twin, Shaquill.

Lee Jourdan

<p>Inclusive leadership expert Lee Jourdan explains why workplace diversity gives organizations a competitive advantage, and offers concrete solutions for leveraging it amid the changing landscape.</p><p>Though data shows more diverse companies outperform their less diverse competitors, DEI efforts face growing challenges—from rulings against affirmative action to the current administration’s rollback of DEI initiatives. So what does this mean for the future of DEI?

Weijia Jiang

<p>Weijia Jiang is CBS News&#39; senior White House correspondent based in Washington, D.C. Jiang&#39;s reporting is featured across all CBS News broadcasts and platforms, including the "<i>CBS Evening News with Norah O&#39;Donnell</i>," "<i>CBS Mornings</i>" and <i>CBSN</i>, CBS News&#39; 24/7 streaming news service.</p><p> Jiang has covered the White House beat since 2018, including the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations.

Jill Schlesinger

<p>Jill Schlesinger, a Certified Financial Planner professional (CFP®), is the Emmy and Gracie award-winning business analyst for CBS News, where she translates complicated business and economic news into understandable, relatable topics for everyday people.

C. Dixon Osburn

<p>C. Dixon Osburn is the Executive Director of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, United States, a global NGO focused on strengthening democracy against the rising tide of extremism, hate and disinformation.

Ginger Kerrick

<p>Ginger Kerrick is Chief Strategy Officer for Barrios Technology, a small woman-owned human spaceflight company in Houston, Texas.  </p><p>Prior to joining the Barrios executive team, Ginger served in multiple senior leadership roles at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) before retiring in 2021 including Deputy Director of the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate and JSC Assistant Center Director for Vision and Strategy. She spent the majority of her 30-year NASA career supporting JSC’s Flight Operations Directorate (FOD) in leadership roles, including Assistan

Dr. Bernice A. King

<p>Dr. Bernice Albertine King is the youngest daughter to the late civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. She was five years old when her father was assassinated in 1968. </p><p>King answered the call to ministry at the age of seventeen when she gave an address advocating against the South African apartheid to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In 1985 and again in 1986, she was arrested with her siblings while protesting against apartheid.

Dominique Dawes

<p>Owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies, Dominique opened the gyms to continue her commitment to developing a healthy and compassionate culture in the sport of gymnastics. Her first academy opened in the midst of a global pandemic, in July 2020, her second location opened in 2023, and she will be opening her third Academy in 2024 located in Columbia, MD. Dawes holds minority ownership of the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League, and she also became part of the Atlanta Falcons ownership group as a Limited Partner in 2024.

General Gustave Perna (Ret.)

<p>Gus Perna, the visionary leader and logistician who led the most rapid vaccine deployment effort in global history, shares his proven principles of leadership, teamwork, and strategic planning—as well as the surprising ways AI bolstered the operation’s success, and insights on how organizations can harness its power. </p><p>Before he was named to co-lead the U.S. government’s COVID-19 response in 2020 with Operation Warp Speed, General Gus Perna served as head of the U.S.

Laurie Hernandez

<p>After bringing home the gold and silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Laurie Hernandez went on to win the coveted mirror ball trophy on <em>Dancing with the Stars</em>, and to publish two books:<em> I Got This: To Gold</em> <em>and Beyond</em>, in 2017, and a picture book for children,<em> She’s Got This</em>, in 2018. Both were <em>New York Times </em>bestsellers.