The highest-ranking Republican woman in the history of the House, Cheney represented Wyoming from 2017-2023, serving on the Armed Services Committee. Vice Chair of the January 6th Committee, she was awarded the JFK Library’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award for her consistent and courageous defense of democracy. Learn more
2024-2025 Speakers
Presenting another outstanding season of influential speakers that will broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the world around you.
With a career spanning more than 40 years, Totenberg has been at the US Supreme Court longer than any sitting justice. She shares insightful reporting on all aspects of the Court as NPR’s legal affairs correspondent. Her memoir Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships was a New York Times bestseller. Learn more
Renowned for her groundbreaking work on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, Gordon-Reed was the first Black person awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History. She was honored with MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships, and won the National Book Award for The Hemingses of Monticello. Her most recent book is On Juneteenth. Learn more
Lecture Sponsor
A pioneer in artificial intelligence, Etzioni was founding CEO of Allen Institute for AI, one of the most respected AI research institutes, partnering with Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen. The first student to major in computer science at Harvard, his TrueMedia.org fights disinformation by developing technology to identify deepfakes and altered images. Learn more
NATO Supreme Allied Commander from 2009 to 2013, Stavridis oversaw operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Balkans, and counter piracy off the coast of Africa. A 4-star US Navy admiral, scholar, and diplomat, he holds a PhD in international relations and was dean of Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Learn more
Lecture Sponsor
Award-winning television anchor and political commentator, Wallace’s career on ABC, NBC, Fox News, and CNN spans five decades. He anchored Fox News Sunday for 18 years, and has interviewed everyone from Vladimir Putin to George Clooney to Bill Gates. He is currently host of The Chris Wallace Show. Learn more
The longest running musical in Broadway history, Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera ran for 35 years. With four decades of continuously running shows in London and New York, his iconic musicals include Cats, School of Rock, and Evita. He achieved the rare EGOT status – winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Learn more