Distinguished Speakers
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Distinguished Speakers
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Award-Winning Actor, Director, DJ & Producer
Golden Globe-winning actor Idris Elba showcases his creative versatility both on-screen in television and film as well as behind the camera as a producer and director. He continues to captivate…
Actor; Best Known for His Role in "Private Practice"
Popular author, entertainer and motion picture star, Taye Diggs has starred in the Broadway production of Rent and such movies as How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Best Man,…
Model, Activist and Actress. She is best known for her work as a plus-size model where she appeared in multiple editorials in fashion magazines
Plus-size model Kate Dillon-Levin talks about body acceptance and the necessity of having self-esteem- no matter what your size. Named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," she is…
Actor, Author, and Producer
There are a few celebrities who take up an environmental cause and actually move beyond a superficial commitment. Ted Danson is one of those celebrities. He is the co-founding member…
Award-Winning Sportscaster, Broadcaster and Best-Selling Author
Bob Costas has won twenty-five Emmy awards—more than any sports broadcaster. His versatility has been recognized with awards and nominations in the categories of hosting, play-by- play, writing, journalism, news,…
Award-Winning Journalist, Best-Selling Author, & Co-founder of Stand Up to Cancer
Katie Couric is an award-winning journalist and TV personality, well-known cancer advocate, documentary film producer and The New York Times best-selling author of "The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons…
TV Personality & Former Judge on The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol
From 16-year-old high-school dropout and EMI mailboy to world-famous record producer and notorious TV personality, Simon Cowells success is the fruit of decades of hard work, an uncanny knack for…
Former Super Bowl-Winning Coach; Studio Analyst for the NFL Today on CBS
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher joined CBS Sports as an analyst for the Network’s NFL studio show, THE NFL TODAY, in February 2007. This season he once again…
Anthropologist, Educator and Director, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Cole Was The First African-American Female President of Spelman College
One of the most powerful and well-regarded African American women in the US, Johnnetta B. Cole has a way with making history. She was the first female African American president…
40 Years Of Experience Working In Education & 2014 former President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Comer to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans
Dr. James P. Comer is the Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center, and has been a Yale medical faculty member…
Anchor, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°
Anderson Cooper is the anchor of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°, a nightly newscast that goes beyond the headlines—keeping politicians and policy makers honest with in-depth reporting and investigations. The show…
Television News Anchor and Correspondent, Radio Host, and Best Selling Author
Rita Cosby is one of the most recognized and respected broadcasters in America and has been quoted and profiled by hundreds of media outlets across the country and overseas. Born…
Best-Selling Author & One of the World's Top Motivational Seminar Leaders
Deepak Chopra is the author of more than seventy-five books translated into over thirty-five languages, including twenty-three New York Times bestsellers in both the fiction and nonfiction categories. Chopra’s medical…
Civil Rights Activist, MLK's Smallest Freedom Fighter and The Recipient Of The Congressional Gold Medal from President Obama in 2016
Civil rights & voting rights activist, author, humanitarian & the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal From President Barack Obama.
Executive Chairman, CityView; Former U.S. Secretary, Housing and Urban Development; Former Mayor of San Antonio
Co-chair of the Bipartisan Center's Immigration Task Force, former HUD secretary, and housing innovator Henry Cisneros
Actor, Director and Screenwriter
George Clooney, actor who is best known for his work in various films like Ocean’s Eleven, Batman & Robin, Leather Heads and Good Night and Good Luck. Along with acting…
NPR Commentator, "All Things Considered"
Well known poet, author and National Public Radio commentator. Andrei Codrescu was born in Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania. His first poetry book "License to Carry a Gun" won the Big Table…
Host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS
Stephen Colbert, the host, co-writer and executive producer of Comedy Central’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series “The Colbert Report,” Stephen Colbert is a best-selling author, political satirist, writer, comedian, former…
Co-host of CBS's Daytime Talk Show "The Talk," Host of "Big Brother"
Julie Chen serves as co-host and moderator of THE TALK, CBS’s Daytime Emmy Award-nominated talk show that examines topical events and contemporary issues through the eyes of five female hosts.…
Actress, Comedian and Voice Artist; Best Known for her Role as Bart Simpson
Spend an entertaining evening with Nancy Cartwright, Emmy Award-winning actress, who not only created the voice of Bart Simpson; she scribed the ultimate insider’s guide to “The Simpsons”, the longest-running…
MLB General Manager of the New York Yankees
General Manager of the New York Yankees since 1998, under Brian Cashman’s leadership, the Yankees have won five World Series championships and seven American League pennants.
Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Writer, and Producer
David Chappelle is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. After beginning his film career in 1993 as Ahchoo in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights, he landed supporting…
Comedian, Writer and Actor
Chevy Chase is arguably the most gifted actor/comedians in the 1980’s, he appeared in the classic film “Caddyshack”. Arguably, no other film actor created more indelible comedy characters during the…
Women & Youth Speaker Best Known for Her Role on "Full House", Former Co-Star on "The View", Inspirational Speaker
Actress, producer, New York Times’ bestselling author and inspirational speaker, Candace Cameron Bure is both outspoken and passionate about her family and faith. Known to millions worldwide from her role…
Film Star, Comedian, Musician, Writer/Director, Philanthropist; Host, "Wild N Out" and "America's Got Talent"
Cited by People Magazine as one of the Top Ten most successful young people in Hollywood and featured on the Cover of Black Enterprises 40 Under 40, Nick Cannon, 28…
Comedian, Actor and Host, "The Price is Right"
Drew Carey is a stand-up comic turned actor and producer who had the distinction of having two hit shows simultaneously: the long-running comedy "The Drew Carey Show," which ran from…
Best-Selling Author
Augusten Burroughs was born Christopher Richter Robison in Pittsburgh, PA on October 23, 1965 and raised in Western Massachusetts. His father chaired the Philosophy department at the University of Massachusetts…
Teacher, Author, and Journalist
Jenna Hager Best-selling Author; Contributing Correspondent, NBC's Today; Chair, UNICEF's Next Generation and Editor-at-Large, Southern Living Magazine. Jenna Hager is a contributing correspondent on NBC's Today show and an editor-at-large…
President and Chairman of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) which he founded in 1992 and former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
Joseph Califano is the former secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. During his years as secretary of HEW (1977-1979), Califano reorganized the department, initiated major health promotion and disease prevention…
National Champion & Head Coach of the University of Kentucky Wildcats
Head Coach of the University of Kentucky and 2012 NCAA National Champion, John Calipari has added an 8th Championship banner to the rafters by leading his team to a victory…
Former Director-General, World Health Organization
Considered the “mother” of sustainable development, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland attributes her passions for public health, the environment, and politic al activism to her father, a doctor and cabinet minister.…
Sportscaster, Radio and Television Announcer, Fox NFL Broadcaster and Author
Speaker and master commentator Joseph Francis “Joe” Buck is a well-known sportscaster who has won numerous Emmy Awards for his distinctive play-by-play work with Fox Sports. Beginning his broadcasting career…
Emmy Award-Winning and GRAMMY-Nominated Actor and Comedian
Wayne Brady, actor, singer, dancer, improviser, songwriter and television personality is known for his work as a regular on the improvisational comedy television series, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” He has…
Children's Activist, Model and Mother
Christie Brinkley has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers worldwide. She is also an artist, writer, photographer, designer, actress, philanthropist & environmentalist.
Politician who served as the 47th Vice President of the United States, having been jointly elected twice with President Barack Obama
The keynotes by Joe Biden reflect his decades of experience as a politician and leader in the United states of America. Biden's career as a politician began at the early…
World-Renowned Neurosurgeon. Serves as Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and Director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Dr. Keith L. Black serves as Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and Director of Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. An internationally renowned neurosurgeon and scientist, Dr.…
Actor and Director, known for his work on television. He is known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law
Corbin Bernsen is an actor, director and producer who has starred in the TV shows L.A. Law, JAG and Psych, as well as in TV movies like "An American Affair"…
Hip-Hop Recording Artist, Record Producer, Disc Jockey, Creative Director, Fashion Designer
Swizz Beatz, Artist. Designer. Producer. Philanthropist. Each label describes Swizz Beatz, but none define him.
Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Musician, and Singer. With a film career spanning more than 55 years, Known for "Argo" and "Little Miss Sunshine"
Alan Arkin performed with folk music groups from the late 1950s to the late '60s. He was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for his screen acting debut,…
Actor, Comedian, Producer, Voice Artist, Screenwriter, Musician and Businessman. He was an original member of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live (1975–1979)
Daniel Aykroyd is an Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winning actor, comedian, screenwriter, and most recently business entrepreneur. He attended Carleton University in Canada, but dropped out before receiving…
Emmy Award-Winner Actor known for role in "The Simpsons"
Emmy Award-winner Hank Azaria provides multiple voices on FOX's animated hit series THE SIMPSONS, including Moe the bartender, Apu the Kwik-E-Mart owner, Police Chief Wiggum, Professor Frink, Dr. Nick Riviera…
Actor, Stand-up Comedian, and Star of "Master of None"
Comedian and Actor Aziz Ansari performs a stand-up comedy. He completed his third major tour of new material, Buried Alive, in the summer of 2013. His fourth major comedy special,…
Tennis Legend & Philanthropist
After turning pro at the age of 16, tennis prodigy Andre Agassi rose to international fame, earning 60 men’s singles titles, including eight Grand Slam singles championships, over a 20-year…
A Living Hero, An American Patriot and a Space Pioneer
Buzz Aldrin grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. His mother, Marion Moon, was the daughter of an Army Chaplain and his father Edwin Eugene Aldrin was an aviation pioneer. Buzz…
Actor, Voice Actor, Comedian and Director. Also best known for his prominent role as George Costanza in the hit television series Seinfeld
The persona of George Costanza, created by versatile actor/writer/director Jason Alexander, has been dubbed by Entertainment Weekly as one of the “Best Television Sidekicks of All Time” (#3 actually, behind…
Author of Dead Man Walking
Sister Helen Prejean is known around the world for her tireless work against the death penalty. She has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on capital punishment and in shaping…