Sociology Speakers

Manning Marable

One of America's most influential and widely read scholars, Marable is Professor of History and Founding Director of the African American Studies Institute at Columbia University. A fervent activist and prolific author, he explores issues of black leadership and politics, culture and society.

Jennifer James

With wit and authority, Dr. James speaks on the dynamics of adaptation and pinpoints the problems that affect corporations and individuals as they strive to move successfully into the future. Dr. James is a specialist in areas of cultural change, diversity, and marketing intelligence.

Richard Florida

Richard Florida is the author of the best-selling books The Rise of the Creative Class: And How It’s Transforming Work, Leisure Community and Everyday Life, The Flight of the Creative Class, and his latest book, Who’s Your City?, which provides the first ever ranking of cities by life-stages. He is als ...

Jonathan Kozol

A former inner city teacher, Kozol has been an activist and advocate for social justice and equity in public education for over 40 years. His newest book, Letters to a Young Teacher, reignites a number of controversial issues: the mania of high-stakes testing, the invasion of our public schools by private corporation ...

Deborah Tannen

Dr. Tannen is best known for her book You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation, which was onThe New York Times bestseller list for over three years, including eight months as number one, and has been translated into twenty-nine languages. In her latest book, You’re Wearing That? Understan ...

James Gilligan

Psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, author of Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic, known for his insight into the psychology of crime and punishment and the prevention of violent behavior, Dr. Gilligan speaks on issues surrounding mental health, violence and other societal issues.

Robert D. Manning

Author of Credit Card Nation, Manning is a specialist in the deregulation of retail banking, household debt, consumer finance, comparative economic development, immigration, and globalization. His next book, Borrowing the American Dream, will be released in 2008.

Juliet B. Schor

Having sparked a national debate with her book, "The Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure", Dr. Schor presents an eye-opening forum on the American worker's quality of life.

William Julius Wilson

America's preeminent sociologist, Wilson is a University Professor at Harvard and recenetly co-authored There Goes the Neighborhood: Racial, Ethnic, and Class Tensions in Four Chicago Neighborhoods and Their Meaning for America.

Jack Levin

Director of the Program for the Study of Violence and Conflict at Northeastern University. Author of "Killer on Campus". An authority on school crime and violence, Dr. Levin offers strategies and solutions for keeping students safe.

Todd Gitlin

A critic of contemporary culture and media sociology, Gitlin captivates audiences with his take on issues from student activism to the analysis of journalism. His book, The Whole World is Watching: Mass Media in the Making and Unmaking of the New Left, offers a stable perspective in the constantly changing American culture.

Gerald Early

Early is the Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters in the English Department at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of several books including "The Culture of Bruising: Essays on Prizefighting, Literature and Modern American Culture," which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism in 1994 ...

Bakari Kitwana

Author of The Hip Hop Generation and The Rap on Gangsta Rap, Kitwana is the former executive editor of The Source and former editorial director of "Third World Press".

Sabrina Weill

Weill is an author and the former editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine. Weill's third book, The Real Truth about Teens and Sex, tells parents what's really going on in their teenagers' minds, hearts, and bedrooms--and gives down-to-earth advice to help parents talk about sex the "right" way, so their teens l ...

Molefi Kete Asante

Dr. Asante has published more scholarly books than any contemporary African author and has been recognized as one of the ten most widely cited African Americans. His book, African American History: Journey of Liberation, is used in more than 400 schools throughout North America. His most recent book, Maulana Karen ...

Clifton L. Taulbert

Taulbert has been honored throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan, South Africa and the Middle East as a gifted writer of warm, honest and heartfelt stories.

Julia Boyd

Julia Boyd is a psychotherapist and author of best-selling health books.

James Alan Fox

Dean of the College of Criminal Justice at Northeastern University. Recently appointed to the U.S. Department of Education's expert panel convened to provide guidelines to establishing safe and drug-free schools.