2018-19 Speakers

JAMES COMEY

Former Director of the FBI (2013-2017)
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 8pm

Comey was appointed Deputy U.S. Attorney General by President George W. Bush. Appointed FBI Director in 2013 by President Obama, he served until 2017 when fired by President Trump amidst political storms regarding the investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

LISA GENOVA

Neuroscientist and Author of Still Alice
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 8pm

A neuroscientist who received her Ph.D. from Harvard, Genova talks about the human brain and neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, and what we can do to prevent them. She has written several books, including the best-selling novel Still Alice, which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film.

Sponsored by:

GLORIA STEINEM

Feminist, Journalist and Political Activist
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 8pm

Steinem is a nationally recognized icon of the women’s liberation movement. A journalist and political activist, she was a columnist for New York magazine and co-founded Ms. magazine in 1972. Steinem has co-founded many organizations to advocate for women’s issues, including the Women’s Media Center.

JEB BUSH

Governor of Florida (1999–2007)
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 8pm

Florida’s first ever two-term Republican governor, Bush served in that position from 1999–2007. In 2016, he was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. Bush serves as Chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a national nonprofit organization he founded to transform education in America.

Sponsored by:

BRYAN STEVENSON

Social Justice Advocate and Author of Just Mercy
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 8pm

As founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson has challenged bias in the criminal justice system and helped achieve court decisions that prohibit sentencing children to death or life imprisonment without parole. His memoir Just Mercy was on Time magazine’s “10 Best Books of Nonfiction.”

Sponsored by:

IAN BREMMER

Global Politics Expert and President of Eurasia Group
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 8pm

Founder of Eurasia Group, the leading global political risk research firm, Bremmer provides analysis and expertise to diplomats and heads of state on how political developments and national security dynamics impact financial markets across the globe. He is regularly seen on CNN and the BBC, and is a foreign affairs columnist for Time.

Sponsored by:

JAY LENO

Comedian and Former Host of The Tonight Show
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 8pm

After performing stand-up comedy for years, Leno became host of NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno after Johnny Carson’s retirement in 1992. Leno dominated the late night TV ratings for more than two decades. He hosted his last episode of The Tonight Show in 2014. He currently hosts Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC.

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