Spartan Speaker Series
Since 2016, the Spartan Speaker Series has brought distinguished authors, critics, scientists, activists, and artists to our campus to discuss critical issues in our society impacting students. The series strives to highlight a broad range of pertinent content and diverse voices.
Fall 2024 Spartan Speaker Series Lineup:
Join us for our first speaker of the Fall semester, Viet Thanh Nguyen!
Tuesday, September 10, 3:30pm-4:45pm, Student Union Ballroom A/B
Sign up to view the livestream here: bit.ly/f24sss910
Join us for an Evening with Jordan Klepper!
Monday, September 23, 7:00pm, Student Union Theatre
Sign up to view the livestream here: bit.ly/f24sss923
| Speaker | Event Description |
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An Evening with Julian Castro
Monday, February 19, 2024, 7:00pm |
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An Evening with Janelle James
Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 7:00pm |
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An Evening with Stephanie Hsu
Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 7:00pm |
| Fall 2023 Spartan Speakers | |
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An Evening With Stephanie Beatriz: September 18, 7:00pm, 2023 |
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Associated Students Legacy Month Keynote Speaker: Ibram X. Kendi: October 3, 6:00pm, 2023 |
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An Evening With Wilson Cruz: October 25, 6:00pm, 2023 |
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Kendrick SampsonWednesday, February 8, 7:00pm "Activism and the Arts: An Evening with Kendrick Sampson"
Actor, Activist, and Advocate for Social Justice |
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Jenny SlateWednesday, March 1, 7:00pm
"Women's Herstory Month: Jenny Slate and the Intersection between Comedy and Mental Health"
Actress, Author, and Comedian |
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Roy ChoiWednesday, April 12, 6:30pm
"AAPI Heritage Month: A cooking Demo and Discussion with Roy Choi"
Social Activist, Chef, and Co-Founder of the Kogi Truck |
Fall 2022 Spartan Speakers
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Ashley ParkWednesday, August 31, 5:15pm
"An Evening with Ashley Park"
Grammy and Tony-nominated actress, Emily in Paris |
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Xiuhtezcatl MartinezWednesday, September 14 at 7:00pm
"Youth Climate Advocacy: Creating Change"
Indigenous Environmental Activist & Hip Hop Artist |
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Dolores HuertaTuesday, October 11 at 6:00pm
"Legacy Month Keynote: An Evening with Dolores Huerta" - Sponsored by the Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center
**Walk ins will be limited and available on a first come first serve basis
Activist, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers |
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Tara HouskaWednesday, November 16 at 6:00pm
"Defending Tribal Land and Indigenous Rights"
Tribal Attorney and Indigenous Rights Activist |
Spring 2022 Speakers
Angie Thomas
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
"Activism, Joy, and
Supporting Black Mental Health"
Author, "The Hate U Give" and "Blackout"
Stephanie Land
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
"Systemic Poverty and the Real Story behind Netflix's 'Maid'"
Author that inspired Netflix's "Maid"
Yara Shahidi
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
"An Evening with Yara Shahidi"
Actress, Producer & Change Agent
Eugene Lee Yang
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
"An Evening with Eugene Lee Yang"
"The Try Guys" and Buzzfeed
Fall 2021 Speakers
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Wednesday, September 15th, 2021
"The 1619 Project: Reframing U.S. History and the Impacts of Slavery"
Gabby Rivera
Tuesday, September 21st, 2021
"A Holistic Approach to a Creative Life: Rest. Write. Repeat."
Simu Liu
Wednesday, September 29th, 2021
"Journey to Success: Reflections on Family, Career and Persistence"
Leah Thomas
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Legacy Month Speaker- sponsored by The Associated Students Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center: "Green Girl Leah -The Intersectional Environmentalist"
Janet Mock
Tuesday, November 9th, 2021
"Searching for Voice, Purpose, and Place: How Sharing with Vulnerability, Humility, and Courage Can Be a Path to Self Discovery and Community Empowerment"
Past Spartan Speakers
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Baratunde Thurston How to Deconstruct Racism and Laugh at the Same Time |
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Alok Menon CCCAC 15 Anniversary Keynote: Alok Menon - Beyond the Binary |
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Thea Monyee Sustaining Joy in the Midst of Social Change: Bridging Mental Health & Activism |
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Simon Tam Slanted: How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court |
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Leslie Odom Jr. Wednesday, August 26, 2020 Tony Award-Winning Actor & Musician and author of "Failing Up." |
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Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Physician, scientist, activist, and author of "What the Eyes Don’t See." |
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Sally Kohn Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Activist, commentator, and author of "The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity" |
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Ibtihaj Muhammad Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Activist, Athlete, 2016 Olympic Medalist & First Female Muslim-American Athlete to Medal at the Olympics |
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Antoni Porowski Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Food & Wine Connoisseur, Netflix's "Queer Eye" & Bestselling Author |
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Reginald Dwayne Betts Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Award-Winning Author, Poet, Lawyer & Outspoken Advocate for Criminal Justice Reform |
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Diane Guerrero September 30, 2019 Actress, Orange is the New Black & Author "In the Country We Love: My Family Divided" |
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Nyle DiMarco October 9, 2019 Deaf Activist | Winner of America's Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars |
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Amanda Nguyen October 23, 2019 CEO & Founder of Rise and 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
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Steven Paul Judd November 9, 2019 Visual Artist and Filmmaker
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WongFu Productions April 10, 2019 "Single by 30" & Yappie with WongFu Productions
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Bryan Terrell Clark February 20, 2019 Finding Your Purpose: From Baltimore to Broadway’s “Hamilton” with Bryan Terrell Clark |
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Tarana Burke February 4, 2019 An Evening with 2017 TIME Person Of The Year "me too." Movement Founder Tarana Burke |
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Shaun King October 24, 2018 Legacy Month Speaker Shaun King
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Tommy Orange November 6, 2018 An Evening with Tommy Orange |
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Hari Kondabolu September 12, 2018 Spartan Speaker Series Presents Hari Kondabolu
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Ana Navarro September 17, 2018 "Politics and the Hispanic Vote" with Ana Navarro |
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Frank Warren April 23, 2018 “The Most Trusted Stranger In America: Frank Warren’s PostSecret” with Frank Warren |
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Winona LaDuke March 19, 2018 “Creating a Multicultural Democracy - Religion, Culture, and Identity in America” with Winona LaDuke |
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Kamau Bell |
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Franchesca Ramsey Legacy Month Keynote Speaker: A Conversation with Franchesca Ramsey
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Dustin Lance Black An Evening with Academy Award Winning Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black
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Lisa Ling “Open Heart, Open Mind” with Lisa Ling
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Richard Cabral An Evening with Richard Cabral: A Conversation and excerpts from his One Man Show
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Kevin Powell "History Is A People's Memory: Celebrating the Past, Celebrating Us" with Kevin Powell
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Matika Wilbur "Changing the Way We See Native America" with Matika Wilbur
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Van Jones "Election 2016 – Protest & Politics in the Age of Twitter” with Van Jones
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