Prominent Person Speakers

Bernard-Henri Levy

Lévy is one of the most highly acclaimed philosophers, journalists, activists and best-selling authors in Europe today. A celebrated thinker, his works of philosophy, fiction, and biography included in his over 30 books, have made him one of the world’s most admired intellectuals. Now Lévy has crossed the Atlantic with ...

Shirin Ebadi

An extraordinary woman of many firsts, Iranian lawyer and activist Ebadi has made history as the first Muslim to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous defense of human rights in Iran. One of the most intelligent, passionate, and respected voices of dissent from within this complex nation, she speaks to the world ...

Maria Hinojosa

Senior Correspondent for PBS news program NOW and Managing Editor of the radio program, "Latino USA," Hinojosa hosts a new PBS series, One-on-One, interviewing some of America's foremost Latino leaders. A prominent voice in the Hispanic community, she brings her wit, warmth, and professional wisdom to the dialogue a ...

Mariane Pearl

Pearl is a unique and versatile award-winning journalist who has written A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl, a gripping and profound narrative of her experience and the pursuit of those who captured and killed her husband, Daniel Pearl, the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Stree ...

Jacques Delors

Known as the architect of the Single European Act, the first modification of the Treaty of Rome, and of the ambitious reform of funding for the European Community, the Honorable Jacques Delors is one of the most influential politicians who contributed to the formation of the Europe of the nineties.

Patti Solis Doyle

As the first Hispanic woman to lead a presidential campaign in the United States, she is the former campaign manager for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 presidential bid. Solis Doyle is one of the hardest working leaders in her business, where it is rare for females to manage major campaigns, and where minorities in key posit ...

Suzanne de Passe

Blessed with a keen ear for talent, the Emmy Award-winning de Passe began her career at Motown Records as creative assistant to company founder Berry Gordy. She brought in the Jackson 5 and subsequently rose to become president of Motown Productions. A powerful figure in Hollywood, de Passe's work encompasses the televisi ...

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Hunter-Gault made civil rights history as the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Georgia. Now, as one of television's premier journalists, she challenges convention with her insights. A special correspondent for NPR based in South Africa, she has written New News Out of Africa, which pr ...

Alice Walker

A gifted and prolific novelist, and a leading voice among African American women writers, Walker is the creative genius behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple.

Candice Bergen

Candice Bergen is “a beautiful actress who projects intelligence, humor, vulnerability, and self-reliance — all more or less simultaneously,” as noted by critic Vincent Canby in the New York Times. Bergen proved this every week for ten years as “Murphy” on the critically acclaimed CBS comedy Murphy Brown ...

Terry McMillan

Since McMillan's breakout novel Waiting to Exhale surged onto The New York Times bestseller list, critics and readers alike have been captivated by her irreverent, often-hilarious take on the issues faced by contemporary African American women. With several of her bestsellers, including Waiting to Exhale, ...

Toni Morrison

One of the most prominent authors in world literature, the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning Morrison has authored such celebrated books as The Bluest Eye, Beloved, and Song of Solomon. A National Book Critics Award recipient, her writings are notable for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly de ...

Howard Gardner

Howard Gardner, a psychologist and professor at Harvard, is a pioneering intellectual thinker whose expertise reflects decades of study in leadership, intelligences, and ethics. His recent book, Five Minds for the Future, examines the mental abilities necessary for success in the ever-changing 21st century.

Mark Geragos

Described as "arguably the hottest defense lawyer of the moment," Mark Geragos is the managing partner of the boutique law firm of Geragos and Geragos. Over the past decade, he has represented dozens of prominent clients, including some of the more notable figures in politics, entertainment, and business. Recently, Geragos ...

Elizabeth Vargas

She is co-anchor of ABC News' 20/20. As an award-winning anchor and correspondent, Vargas has traveled the world covering breaking news stories, reporting in-depth investigations, and conducting newsmaker interviews.

Patricia Schroeder

During her twelve terms in the House of Representatives, Schroeder earned acclaim for her support of family rights and women's equality. In her current position as President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers, she has earned equal praise for her advocacy of free speech and intellectual property rights.

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga

With her father former President of Sri Lanka and mother the world’s first women Prime Minister, Kumaratunga was destined to be the first woman President of Sri Lanka. Renowned for her energy and intellect, she describes leading a nation through challenging times, including the 2004 tsunami, fighting terrorism, and assas ...

Lois Schiffer

Formerly the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Schiffer was responsible for litigation on behalf of the United States in cases related to pollution, natural resources, wildlife, Indians, and land condemnation.

Betty Williams

In 1976, Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to help end the decades of violence that permeated Northern Ireland. As President of the World Centers of Compassion for Children, she works with other fellow Nobel Laureates in trouble spots throughout the world where the cause of peace and safety of chil ...

Bay Buchanan

Former US Treasurer, political commentator for CNN, and veteran of six presidential campaigns, Buchanan gets inside politics and the election with her well-informed, fair perspective. As an author, she takes the most controversial presidential candidate to task in her unapologetically partisan book The Extreme Makeover ...