Past Speakers
2008-09 Theme: “Sustaining our Environment: Developing our Greenprint”
September 9, 2008. Greenpeace USA Executive Director John Passacantando
Passacantando came to serve as executive director of Greenpeace after co-founding Ozone Action. He holds a B.A. in economics from Wake Forest University and an M.A. in economics from New York University.
February 25, 2009. Animal Planet Host and Leading Conservationist Jeff Corwin
Emmy winner Jeff Corwin has been working for the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems around the world since he was a teenager. Corwin has B.S. degrees in biology and anthropology from Bridgewater State College, and an M.S. in wildlife and fisheries conservation from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
April 22, 2009. Ocean Futures Society International Project Coordinator Céline Cousteau
Educational ambassador and Cousteau “oceanaut” Céline Cousteau seeks to educate through adventure and exploration. The daughter of ocean explorer and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau and granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, Céline Cousteau is the international project coordinator of her father’s Ocean Futures Society.
2007-2008 Theme: "Ethical Leadership"
Anne Fadiman, author, essayist, editor and teacher (author of "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," which was the 2007-08 Meredith College Summer Reading Program selection)
Michael Beschloss, award-winning presidential historian and author of eight books, including “Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989,” which was published in May 2007. He serves as NBC News Presidential Historian, and appears regularly on all NBC Network news programs including “Meet the Press” and “Today.”
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Pelosi has represented California’s Eighth District in the House of Representatives since 1987. On January 4, 2007, Pelosi was elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. She is the first woman to serve in this position and is the first woman in American history to lead a major party in the U.S. Congress.
Judy Woodruff, broadcast journalist who has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS. She is a senior correspondent for PBS’ “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” and is the editor of the show’s 2008 election coverage. Woodruff attended Meredith College from 1964-66 before earning her bachelor’s degree at Duke University.
2006-07 Theme: "The Status of Women: Our World, Our Responsibility"
Doris Kearns Goodwin, historian, author and commentator (author of "No Ordinary Time," which was the 2006-07 Meredith College Summer Reading Program selection)
Sarah Weddington, attorney, women's rights activist, lead attorney in Roe V. Wade
Phyllis Trible, Meredith College alumna and internationally known Biblical scholar
2005-06 Theme: "Our World, Our Responsibility: Contributing to Positive Change around the Globe."
Rory Kennedy, Documentary filmmaker co-founder and co-president of Moxie Firecracker Films, Inc.
Nicolas de Torrenté, US executive director, Doctors Without Borders
William McDonough, sustainable design leader, author and founder and principal of William McDonough & Partners and of Architecture and Community Design
