Distinguished Speakers
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Distinguished Speakers
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Actor, Comedian, Director, Author and Activist
Aisha Tyler, is an actor, comedian, director, author and activist. she is currently co-host of the hit cbs daytime talker "the talk" until end of the seventh season. Aisha joined…
American Music Icon & Former 'American Idol' Judge
Steven Tyler is the iconic songwriter, composer and voice of Aerosmith – America’s Greatest Rock and Roll band – and is considered one of rock’s most recognizable and dynamic frontmen.…
Award-Winning Actor, Author and Education Advocate
A charismatic and versatile actor, Blair Underwood has found success acting in television, on stage, and on the big screen. His success has been driven by the underlying belief that,…
Television Journalist who is anchor of ABC's television news magazine 20/20 and ABC News specials
As an award-winning anchor and correspondent, Elizabeth Vargas has traveled the world covering breaking news stories, reporting in - depth investigations and conducting newsmaker interviews. During the historic Iraqi elections…
Actor, Producer and Director Known for His Roles in "Gilmore Girls," "Heroes" currently stars as Jack Pearson on NBC's Hit Show "This Is Us"
Milo Ventimiglia, actor best known for his role as Peter Petrelli on the NBC television series Heroes. Ventimiglia's first career break was in the Fox series Opposite Sex, playing Jed…
Media Mogul and Philanthropist
Throughout his career, Ted Turner has won recognition for his entrepreneurial acumen; sharp business skills; a vision that transformed television; leadership qualities that won sports championships; and his unprecedented philanthropy.…
Former NFL Quarterback, Heisman Trophy Winner & Author. Currently Professional Baseball Outfielder in the New York Mets Organization
Tim Tebow is a two-time national champion, first round NFL draft pick, and Heisman trophy winner. Tim Tebow is currently signed to play professional baseball with the New York Mets…
America's Leading Syndicated Op-Ed Writer/Columnist
With a twice-weekly column appearing in hundreds of newspapers, Cal Thomas is one of the most widely read and one of the most highly regarded voices on the American political…
Former Head of MTV Network's Music and Logo Group and Current CEO of Digital Video Shop Gunpowder & Sky
Van Toffler is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gunpowder & Sky, a digital-first global studio dedicated to creating and distributing video content independent of form, genre or platform. Toffler is…
Actress & Comedian; Star of Neflix's "Grace and Frankie"
Lily Tomlin continues to venture across an ever-widening range of media, starring in television, theater, motion pictures, animation and video. Tomlin made her television debut in 1966 on The Garry…
Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent, CNN; Author, The Devil May Dance
A prolific journalist and writer, Jake Tapper’s work has been lauded by such legendary newsmen Bob Woodward as
Founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement & Editor of Essence Magazine
After 27 years as the chief editor of Essence magazine and the visionary credited with building the brand, Susan L. Taylor left publishing to devote her life to building an…
Oscar-Winning Writer and Director who has worked with more than 20 full-length feature films, including Platoon, Natural Born Killers and JFK
Oliver Stone has been credited with writing and or directing over 20 full-length feature films, earning him a well-respected place in cinematic history for some of the most influential and…
Television Sports Journalist & Advocate, Anchor of ESPN's SportsCenter Face to Face
Hannah Storm is an award-winning journalist, producer and director, a pioneer in the field of sports broadcasting for women, an advocate for children’s issues, and a published author. She joined…
Emmy-Award Winning Journalist & "20/20" Anchor and Correspondent, known for his career on both ABC News and Fox Business Channel
John Stossel joined Fox Business Network (FBN) in 2009. He is the host of "Stossel" (Fridays at 9 PM/ET), a weekly program highlighting current consumer issues with a libertarian viewpoint.…
Emmy Award-Winning Comedian, Actress & Author
Wanda Sykes has been called "one of the funniest stand-up comics" by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. Her smart-witted stand-up has sent her…
Actress and Singer; Known for "The Cosby Show" and Disney's "That's So Raven"; Former Co-Host of "The View"
Raven-Symone, actress, comedian, model, singer, songwriter, dancer, television producer and talk show host. She first appeared on television in 1989 on The Cosby Show as Olivia Kendall. She released her…
Actor, "Star Trek" Star and Community Activist
George Takei, a Japanese American who—from age 4 to 8—was unjustly imprisoned in two US internment camps during World War II, is an outspoken supporter of human right issues and…
Actor, Musician, Writer & Activist
In describing Henry Rollins, the tendency is to try to squeeze as many labels as possible into a single sentence. “Rollins is many things,” says the Washington Post, “diatribist, confessor,…
Cultural Icon & Talk Show Host
Throughout an illustrious career, Jerry Springer has become a cultural and civic icon. In addition to talk show host, he has been the mayor of Cincinnati, political pundit, lawyer, award-winning…
Rhythm and Blues and Gospel Singer, Actress, and Civil Rights Activist; Member of Family Band, The Staple Singers
Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples possesses one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music. From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family group,…
Political Economist; Author and Actor; Cult Icon. Longtime Columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Barrons and The New York Times; Speech Writer and Aide for Presidents Nixon and Ford
Economist; Longtime Columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Barrons and The New York Times; Speech Writer and Aide for Presidents Nixon and Ford; Emmy-winning Television Gameshow Host; Commentator for CBS…
Talk Show Host, Comedian and Producer
Known for his unique brand of political satire as the host of Comedy Central's runaway hit The Daily Show, Jon Stewart is considered one of America's most respected comedic voices…
Actor and Known for his roles as Victor Sifuentes on "LA Law" and Detective Bobby Simone on "NYPD Blue"
Jimmy Smits is best known for his character portrayals in long-running starring roles in the television series "L.A. Law" (1986-91), "NYPD Blue" (1993-98) and "The West Wing" (2004-06), and for…
Author, Former Philosophy Professor and Self-Proclaimed “Freedom Feminist”
Christina Hoff Sommers, a resident scholar who teaches gender politics, feminism and free speech, is probably best known for her critique of late-twentieth-century feminism. a resident scholar at the American…
Actor, Comedian and Singer. Best known for his portrayal of the android, Lieutenant Commander Data, in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Brent Spiner, whose primary claim to fame is his portrayal of the beloved android Data on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), was born and raised in…
Actress, Voice Actress, Writer, Author, Comedian, and Painter. She is Best Known for Her Long-running Role as Lisa Simpson on the Hit Television Series The Simpsons
Yeardley Smith, actress, voice actress, writer, comedian and painter. She is best known for her long-running role as Lisa Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons. She was born…
Award-Winning Backpack Journalist and Author. First Internet Correspondent for Yahoo! News
Kevin Sites is a author and freelance journalist. He has spent nearly a decade covering global wars and disasters for ABC, NBC, CNN, and Yahoo! News. Dubbed by the trade…
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Reporter and Former New York Times Reporter and Editor and Emmy Award-Winning Producer/Correspondent
Hedrick Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter and editor and Emmy award-winning producer/correspondent, has established himself over the past 50 years of his career as one of America’s…
Actress, Dancer, Singer-Songwriter and Businesswoman
Jada Pinkett Smith has proven herself to be one of today's most versatile and gifted young actresses. Recently, she landed one of Hollywood's most sought after roles, as Niobe in…
Sports Journalist, Analyst and Talk Show Host on ESPN's First Take
Stephen A. Smith, along with Max Kellerman, is a featured commentator on ESPN’s First Take weekdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, discussing and debating the sports topics of…
Emmy-Winning Journalist, Former NBC News Correspondent and hosted the CBS News morning programs, The Early Show
Harry Smith, a multi-Emmy award-winning reporter. Smith began his long and successful career at Denver, Colorado, radio stations before moving first to public TV and then to the Denver CBS…
Award-Winning Journalist, Former First Lady of California, Best-Selling Author and Leading Alzheimer’s Advocate
Award-Winning Journalist, Former First Lady of California, Best-Selling Author and leading Alzheimer’s Advocate. Born Maria Owings Shriver on November 6, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois.
Radio Journalist best known as host of the National Public Radio evening news broadcast All Things Considered
Robert Siegel is senior host of NPR's award-winning evening newsmagazine All Things Considered. With 40 years of experience working in radio news, Siegel is still at it hosting the country's…
Actress, Eating Disorder and MS Spokesperson. She is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos
As Meadow Soprano on HBO’s blockbuster hit “The Sopranos,” Jamie-Lynn Sigler portrays
Emmy-Winner Stand-Up Comedian and Actress. She forces her audience to reconsider their own assumed comfort zone with topics involving religion, race, and gender
Emmy-Winner Sarah Silverman is as versatile of a performer as they come. Her repertoire includes everything from film and television, stand-up comedy, to iconic online videos, and she added author…
Emmy Award Winning Writer, Creator, Executive Producer HBO's "The Wire",’ ‘Homicide: Life on the Streets,’ ‘Treme’
David Simon is the creator, head writer and executive producer behind the hit TV series The Wire. In his writing and his production work he explores the darker side of…
Former Moderator of “Face The Nation,” Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News
Bob Schieffer is broadcast journalism's most experienced Washington reporter. He is CBS News' chief Washington correspondent; serves as anchor and moderator of Face the Nation, the network's Sunday public affairs…
Emmy-Award Winning Actor; "Star Trek" and "Boston Legal"
William Shatner has cultivated a career that has spanned over 50 years as professional actor, director, producer, screenwriter, recording artist, author and horseman. He is one of pop culture’s most…
Actor and Comedian; Known for "The Simpsons" and "Spinal Tap"
Harry Shearer takes “hyphenate” to new levels – first and foremost an actor, he is also an author, director, satirist, musician, radio host, playwright, multi-media artist and record label owner. …
Political Scientist and Political Analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia
Dr. Larry Sabato is the founder and director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Actor, Comedian, Rapper & Writer; Former member of "Saturday Night Live" & Currently in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
Andy Samberg is an actor, comedian, rapper and writer best known as a member of the comedy group, The Lonely Island and as a former cast member of "Saturday Night…
Author of the "Harry Potter" Series, a Worldwide Phenomenon
Joanne Rowling was born in July 1965 at Yate General Hospital in England and grew up in Chepstow, Gwent where she went to Wyedean Comprehensive. Jo left Chepstow for Exeter…
Comedian & Actor Known for "Everybody Loves Raymond"
Ray Romano, The star from one of the most respected comedy sitcoms in television history, Everybody Loves Raymond, will have you rolling with laughter. This actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and…
New York Times Bestselling Author of THE LAST JIHAD also a political columnist for World magazine
Joel C. Rosenberg is a New York Times bestselling author of 11 novels and five nonfiction books, with more than 3 million copies sold. He has been interviewed on hundreds…
Award-Winning Author and Essayist and was a long-time essayist for Time magazine and PBS NewsHour. He writes books, and is the Distinguished Professor of English and Writing at Stony Brook University
Roger Rosenblatt is a journalist, author, playwright, and teacher. William Safire of the New York Times wrote that his work represents "some of the most profound and stylish writing in…
Child Survivor of the Holocaust whose family was rescued by Oskar Schindler
Alex Rosner, a child survivor of the Holocaust whose family was rescued by Oskar Schindler. Born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1935, Rosner spent the years between 1940 and 1945 in…
Host of "Geraldo at Large" & Fox News Reporter
One of media’s most enduring broadcasters, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist Geraldo Rivera is a Fox News Senior Correspondent and host of breaking news specials, the “Geraldo Rivera Reports.” He…
News Anchor, "Good Morning America"
Robin Roberts has been the anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America since 2005. She began contributing to the morning program in 1995