Vanderbilt Speakers Committee

Vanderbilt's 2019 Impact Symposium will feature Ava DuVernay, whose directorial work includes the Oscar-winning historical drama "Selma" and the Oscar-nominated "13th"; Abby Wambach, Olympic gold medalist and World Cup soccer champion; and Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of the best-selling "Between the World and Me," which won the National Book Award in 2015. Read More

“An Evening with Daymond John” is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. in Langford Auditorium. Read More

Vanderbilt's Impact Symposium, one of the oldest university lecture series of its caliber in the nation, this year features Chris Matthews, best-selling author and host of MSNBC’s "Hardball"; Hasan Minhaj, comedian, actor and senior correspondent for "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah"; and Jessica Carbino, sociologist for the social and dating app Bumble. Read More

Grammy and Tony Award-winning performer Daveed Diggs, who starred in the original Broadway cast of the hit musical "Hamilton," will speak at Vanderbilt Nov. 9. Preceding Diggs’ talk, Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos and Writer-in-residence Alice Randall will participate in a roundtable discussion providing insight into Alexander Hamilton, the statesman’s—and "Hamilton," the musical’s—influences on contemporary American politics. Read More

Vanderbilt's Impact Symposium, one of the oldest university lecture series of its caliber in the nation, will feature best-selling author Azar Nafisi, Black Lives Matter activist and Teach For America Executive Director Brittany Packnett, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and former Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner March 21-23. Read More

Jared Cohen, founder and director of Google Ideas and adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, will discuss “Digital Counterinsurgency: How to Marginalize the Islamic State Online." Read More

Actor and writer Ellie Kemper will speak at Vanderbilt University’s Langford Auditorium on Tuesday, April 14. Read More

Liza Donnelly, a writer and cartoonist for "The New Yorker" magazine, will speak at Vanderbilt's Student Life Center on Monday, Nov. 10. Read More

Actor and director Josh Radnor will speak at Vanderbilt University’s Langford Auditorium on Wednesday, April 16. Read More

Vanderbilt's Impact Symposium marks its 50th anniversary this year with a slate of speakers that includes former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank. Read More

UPDATE: The original Jan. 15 event and rescheduled Jan. 16 event with Coach Bob Knight are cancelled. Ticket refunds are available at the original point of purchase. Tickets purchased on campus may be returned to the Sarratt Student Center box office for a refund. Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster.com will… Read More

Kal Penn, actor and former associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, will speak at Vanderbilt University’s Langford Auditorium Wednesday, Nov. 20. Read More

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss and First Amendment Center founder John Seigenthaler will lead a conversation about the Gettysburg Address to mark its 150th anniversary. Read More

“Your City: Nashville’s Stories” will include brief addresses by Reid Thompson, Arnold Myint, Tasha A. French Lemley and Roy Wooten, better known by the stage name 'Future Man'. Read More

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will speak at Vanderbilt in his first appearance on a college campus since ending his term as Israel’s minister of defense in March 2013. Read More