Women of Influence (U)

<p>Dr. Julianne Malveaux has long been recognized for her progressive and insightful observations. She is a labor economist, noted author and colorful commentator. Described by Cornel West as “the most iconoclastic public intellectual in the country”. Her contributions to the public dialogue on issues such as race, culture, gender and their economic impacts are shaping public opinion in 21st Century America.</p><p>Dr. Malveaux’s popular writing has appeared in <i>USA Today</i>, <i>Black Issues in Higher Education</i>, <i>Ms.

<p>An award-winning journalist and one of the most recognized voices in radio, Michele Norris engages audiences in candid discussion about race, culture and communication in America.</p><p>From the radio airwaves of NPR and primetime television to leading news publications such as T<em>he Washington Post</em>, and author of<em> Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race</em> (January 2024), Norris is one of the most trusted voices in American journalism.

Sally Kohn is one of the leading progressive voices in America today. A frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News, she explores political division, hate, otherizing, diversity and identity — and how we can solve the deep problems of our past and present. 

<p>Sonia Nazario is an award-winning journalist whose stories have tackled some of this country’s most intractable problems -- hunger, drug addiction, immigration -- and have won some of the most prestigious journalism and book awards. </p><p>She is best known for "Enrique&#39;s Journey," her story of a Honduran boy’s struggle to find his mother in the U.S. Published as a series in the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>, "Enrique&#39;s Journey" won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 2003.

<p>Jane Mayer has illuminated the story-behind-the-story of U.S. politics for over 20 years and currently serves as the Chief Correspondent for T<i>he New Yorker</i>. As one of America’s leading female investigative journalist, Mayer was recently named one of the 35 most powerful media figures by the <i>Hollywood Reporter.</i></p><p>Jane Mayer began her career as a writer for <i>The New Yorker </i>in 1995 and has maintained her reputation as one of the nation&#39;s most trusted political investigative writers.

<p>America Ferrera is perhaps best known for her fearless portrayal of "Betty Suarez" on ABC&#39;s hit comedy <i>Ugly Betty</i> and "Carmen" in the popular film <i>The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants</i>. Ferrera&#39;s <i>Ugly Betty</i> role earned her an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award, as well as ALMA and Imagen Awards.</p><p>Ferrera currently produces and stars in the long-running NBC workplace comedy,<i> Superstore</i>.

<p>Since she was a little girl, Shawn Johnson East dreamed of competing for the United States in the Olympics. By 2008, when she was named to the US Olympics Gymnastics Team, she was already a two-time National Champion, and a World AA Champion.</p>

<p>At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Johnson East helped establish the United States as one of the most talented teams in the world, winning the individual gold medal in the balance beam, and three silver medals in the individual all-around, floor exercise, and team categories.</p>

<p>The real-life inspiration behind ABC&#39;s hit political thriller series "Scandal" starring Kerry Washington, Judy Smith is the US&#39;s premier crisis management expert. As the founder and president of Smith & Company -- a leading strategic and crisis communications firm with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, DC -- she uniquely combines her communication skills, media savvy, and legal and political acumen to serve clients around the world.</p>

<p>In the wake of high-profile domestic violence incidents, Beverly Gooden created the viral hashtag #WhyIStayed and sparked a national conversation about how society views victims and why we all have a role to play in breaking the culture of silence that perpetuates abuse.</p><p>Beverly Gooden breaks down the myths and misunderstandings around domestic violence to illuminate the complex reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships and what you can do to help. As the “Me Too” movement has shown, what our society considers acceptable can be changed by the work of many

<p>One of the best female goalkeepers of all time, Hall of Famer and ESPY Award-winner Briana Scurry shares stories from her trailblazing journey, empowering audiences to strive for excellence and stay resilient, no matter the obstacles.</p><p>Briana Scurry is widely recognized as one of the world’s most talented and influential goalkeepers. Scurry’s 173 international appearances as one of the first African American and openly gay professional athletes championed equality and diversified professional soccer.