Established in the winter of 2000 by President Gearan, the President's Forum Series brings a variety of speakers to campus to share their knowledge and ideas with students, faculty and staff, as well as with interested community members.

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Speakers

  • Arcuri

    Michael Arcuri

    Congressman-elect
    Fall 2006
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  • Asch

    Chris Myers Asch

    Co-Founder of the U.S. Public Service Academy
    Fall 2007
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  • Bagley

    Elizabeth Frawley Bagley

    Top Advisor with the U.S. Department of State and Former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal
    Spring 2015
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  • Bank

    Melissa Bank '82

    Author
    Fall 2005
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  • Banks

    William Banks

    Internationally recognized expert on constitutional and national security law and counterterrorism
    Fall 2005
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  • Begala

    Paul Begala

    Political Consultant and Commentator for CNN; Former Adviser to President Bill Clinton
    Fall 2009
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  • Blumenthal

    Dr. Susan Blumenthal

    U.S. Assistant Surgeon General and Rear Admiral
    Fall 2000
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  • Boysen

    Dan Boysen '11

    Everytown for Gun Safety
    Fall 2016
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  • Brazile

    Donna Brazile

    Democratic Political Strategist
    Spring 2016
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  • Brison

    Susan Brison

    Expert on Sexual Violence and Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dartmouth College
    Fall 2014
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  • Browner

    Carol M. Browner

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    Fall 2000
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  • Burghardt

    Ray Burghardt

    Former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam
    Spring 2005
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  • Carville and Matalin

    James Carville LL.D. '13, P'17
    and Mary Matalin P'17

    Political Strategists
    Fall 2016
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  • Matalin and Carville

    Mary Matalin and James Carville

    Political Strategists
    Fall 2014
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  • Clift

    Eleanor Clift

    Newsweek Contributing Editor, Regular Panelist on “The McLaughlin Group,” and Author
    Fall 2012
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  • climate

    CLIMATE NEUTRALITY: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

    Spring 2024
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  • Clinton

    Hillary Rodham Clinton

    First Lady
    Spring 2000
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  • Collins

    Billy Collins

    Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001-2003
    Spring 2008
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  • Conan and Rudin

    Neal Conan and Ken Rudin

    Political Junkie Road Show
    Fall 2014
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  • Cortese

    Anthony Cortese

    Co-director of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment
    Spring 2008
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  • Cousteau

    Philippe Cousteau Jr.

    Chief Executive Officer of EarthEcho International
    Spring 2011
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  • Cuomo

    Andrew M. Cuomo

    U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
    Fall 2000
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  • Cuomo

    Kerry Kennedy Cuomo

    Human Rights Activist and Author
    Fall 2001
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  • Curry

    The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry ’75

    27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
    Fall 2016
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  • Dallaire

    Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire

    Force Commander for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda
    Spring 2012
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  • de Brún

    Bairbre de Brún

    Member of Sinn Féin
    Spring 2006
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  • Dean

    Gov. Howard Dean

    Former Governor of Vermont and Former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
    Spring 2010
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  • Deneen

    Patrick Deneen

    Professor and Author
    Spring 2024
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  • DeWitt

    Karen DeWitt

    Award-winning ABC News Journalist
    Spring 2000
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  • Dinkins

    David N. Dinkins

    Former Mayor of New York City; Professor at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
    Fall 2000
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  • Dionne

    E. J. Dionne

    Washington Post Opinion Writer
    Spring 2012
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  • Donaldson

    Sam Donaldson

    Journalist; ABC News White House Correspondent
    Spring 2000
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  • Drinan

    Robert Drinan, S.J.

    Professor of Law at Georgetown University
    Spring 2000
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  • Dukakis

    Michael Dukakis

    1988 Democratic Presidential Nominee; Former Governor of Massachusetts
    Fall 2000
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  • election

    Election 2000: A Closer Look

    Rick Davis, Congressman James P. McGovern and Andy Hiller
    Fall 2000
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  • Elliott

    Michael Elliott

    TIME International Editor
    Spring 2009
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  • Epstein

    Helen Epstein

    Author
    Fall 2011
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  • FORMER U.S. REP. JOHN J. FASO (R-NY) AND FORMER U.S. REP. DAN GLICKMAN (D-KS)

    FORMER U.S. REP. JOHN J. FASO (R-NY) AND FORMER U.S. REP. DAN GLICKMAN (D-KS)

    Fall 2023
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  • Ferris

    Barbara Ferris

    Founder and President of the International Women’s Democracy Center (IWDC)
    Fall 2003
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  • Fisher

    The Hon. Shireen Avis Fisher '70

    Justice of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone
    Fall 2015
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  • Frank

    Barney Frank

    Congressman
    Spring 2001
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  • Galston

    William A. Galston

    Wall Street Journal Political Theorist and Writer
    Fall 2014
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  • Gergen

    David Gergen

    Commentator, Editor, Teacher, Public Servant, Best-selling Author and Adviser to Presidents
    Spring 2003
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  • global ed

    CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF GLOBAL EDUCATION

    A reflection on the growth and impact of international education with the HWS community
    Fall 2024
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  • Gustafson

    Ellen Gustafson

    Founder and Executive Director of the 30 Project
    Fall 2011
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  • SNCC

    Hands on the Freedom Plow: the Women of SNCC

    Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
    Fall 2012
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  • Harkin

    Senator Tom Harkin

    U.S. Senator
    Fall 2016
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  • Hess

    Stephen Hess

    Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Emeritus of Governance Studies
    Spring 2009
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  • Hightower

    Jim Hightower

    National Radio Commentator, Columnist and Author
    Fall 2003
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  • Hockenberry

    John Hockenberry

    Journalist
    Spring 2011
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  • Houghton and Reed Houghton and Reed

    Rep. Amo Houghton and Senator Jack Reed

    A Window on Washington
    Spring 2003
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  • Howard

    Christopher Howard

    President of Hampden-Sydney College
    Spring 2013
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  • Hume

    John Hume

    1998 Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize; 2001 Recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize
    Spring 2002
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  • Hunt

    Swanee Hunt

    Former US Ambassador to Austria; Director of the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPP) at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
    Spring 2006
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  • Ifill

    Gwen Ifill

    Journalist
    Fall 2000
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  • CARRIE JAMES ’92

    CARRIE JAMES ’92

    Author, Research Associate and Principal Investigator at Harvard’s Project Zero
    Fall 2023
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  • Johnson

    William A. Johnson Jr.

    Mayor, City of Rochester, New York
    Spring 2005
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  • Joseph

    James A. Joseph

    Civil Rights Pioneer, Renowned scholar and former Ambassador to South Africa
    Fall 2006
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  • Kamarck

    Elaine Kamarck

    Lecturer in Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
    Fall 2004
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  • KAROFSKY

    ROB KAROFSKY ’89

    President of UBS Investment Bank
    Spring 2024
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  • Katz

    Mark Katz

    Writer and Author
    Spring 2000
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  • Kennedy

    Victoria Reggie Kennedy

    Legal Strategist and Financial Attorney
    Fall 2014
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  • SCOTT KEOGH '91

    SCOTT KEOGH '91

    Scout Motors President and CEO
    Fall 2023
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  • Keyes

    Alan Keyes

    Former Republican Presidential Candidate
    Fall 2001
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  • Khazei

    Alan Khazei

    Co-founder of City Year and founder of Be the Change, Inc.
    Fall 2012
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  • Kimmel

    Michael Kimmel

    Distinguished professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at Stony Brook University
    Spring 2015
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  • The Kite Runner

    "The Kite Runner"

    Adapted from the book by Khaled Hosseini
    Fall 2007
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  • Kozol

    Jonathan Kozol

    Award-winning Author
    Spring 2001
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  • Lamanna

    Matt Lamanna '97

    Paleontologist
    Spring 2007
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  • Liu

    Eric Liu

    Author and founder of the Guiding Lights Project
    Spring 2005
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  • Lovins

    Amory B. Lovins

    Physicist
    Fall 2012
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  • Maathai

    Wangari Maathai Sc.D. '94, P'94, P'96

    2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of The Green Belt Movement
    Spring 2008
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  • MacCormack

    Charles MacCormack

    President and chief executive officer of Save the Children Federation, Inc.
    Spring 2004
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  • Mancuso

    Angelo Mancuso

    Writer, Producer and Director of “American Harvest”
    Fall 2007
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  • mayors

    "Mayoral Candidates, A Conversation"

    Featuring the three candidates running for mayor of Geneva
    Fall 2007
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  • McCarthy

    Colman McCarthy

    Syndicated Columnist and Former Editorial Page Reporter, Washington Post
    Fall 2002
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  • McGovern

    George McGovern

    United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
    Spring 2002
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  • McMickle

    Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle

    Political Activist and Author
    Spring 2013
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  • Middlebrook

    Harold Middlebrook

    Friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Active in the Civil Rights Movement
    Spring 2012
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  • Murguía

    Janet Murguía

    President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza
    Spring 2006
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  • Myers

    Dee Dee Myers

    Former White House Press Secretary, Political Analyst and Commentator
    Spring 2004
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  • Myrick

    Svante L. Myrick

    Ithaca Mayor and HWS Presidential Fellow
    Spring 2016
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  • Myrick

    Svante L. Myrick

    City of Ithaca's youngest Mayor and first Mayor of color
    Spring 2013
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  • CNN

    Brigitte Nacos, Peter Bergen, John Fielding

    Terrorism and the Media
    Spring 2007
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  • Nader

    Ralph Nader

    Consumer Activist; 2000 Presidential Candidate for the Green Party
    Fall 2000
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  • Nagourney

    Adam Nagourney

    Political Writer
    Spring 2008
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  • Norquist

    Grover Norquist

    Conservative Activist; President of Americans for Tax Reform
    Fall 2003
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  • Outlaw

    Lucius Outlaw

    Social and Political Philosopher
    Fall 2008
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  • Page

    Susan Page

    Washington Bureau Chief of USA Today
    Fall 2008
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  • Patterson

    Thomas E. Patterson

    Harvard Professor and Author
    Fall 2004
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  • Plante

    Bill Plante

    Emmy Award Winner; CBS News White House Correspondent
    Spring 2001
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  • Platoni

    Kathy Platoni '74

    Hypnotherapy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment expert
    Spring 2014
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  • Puriefoy

    Wendy Puriefoy '71

    President of the Public Education Network
    Fall 2007
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  • Purdum

    Todd S. Purdum

    Senior Writer at POLITICO and contributing editor at Vanity Fair
    Spring 2014
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  • Relin

    David Oliver Relin

    Journalist and Author
    Spring 2010
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  • Reynolds

    Tom Reynolds

    Congressman
    Spring 2001
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  • Richards

    Cecile Richards

    President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
    Spring 2013
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  • Robinson

    Bishop V. Gene Robinson

    9th bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church
    Spring 2011
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  • Roose

    Kevin Roose

    Author
    Spring 2010
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  • Rosenbaum

    Dick Rosenbaum '52, P'86

    Nixon Peadbody LLP Senior Counsel and Former GOP Chairman for New York State
    Fall 2008
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  • Rosensweig

    Daniel L. Rosensweig '83

    President and CEO of Chegg and former HWS Trustee
    Spring 2017
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  • Rosensweig

    Daniel L. Rosensweig '83

    Accomplished Internet Entrepreneur
    Spring 2011
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  • Rothstein

    Steven Rothstein

    Executive Director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
    Spring 2017
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  • Schumacher

    Gus Schumacher

    Former Undersecretary of Agriculture
    Spring 2014
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  • Sellers

    Cleveland L. Sellers Jr.

    President of Voorhees College
    Fall 2013
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  • Sesno

    Frank Sesno

    CNN Senior Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief
    Fall 2001
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  • Shalala

    Donna E. Shalala

    U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; Next president of the University of Miami
    Fall 2000
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  • Shepard

    Judy Shepard

    Gay rights advocate and mother of Matthew Shepard
    Spring 2013
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  • Shore

    Bill Shore

    Founder and executive director of Share Our Strength; Author
    Spring 2004
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  • Shriver

    Timothy P. Shriver

    Chairman of Special Olympics
    Fall 2011
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  • Simpson

    Victor Simpson '63

    Former Rome Bureau Chief for the Associated Press
    Spring 2014
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  • Simmons

    Jamal Simmons

    Political Analyst and Journalist
    Fall 2012
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  • Spitzer

    Silda Wall Spitzer

    First Lady of New York
    Spring 2008
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  • Slaughter

    Louise Slaughter

    Congresswoman
    Spring 2000
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  • Soderberg

    Nancy Soderberg

    Expert on U.S. Foreign Policy
    Spring 2003
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  • Solmonese

    Joe Solmonese

    President, Human Rights Campaign
    Spring 2006
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  • Spruill

    Vikki N. Spruill P'12

    President and CEO of the Ocean Conservancy
    Spring 2010
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  • Stephanopoulos

    George Stephanopoulos

    ABC's Good Morning America Anchor and Chief Political Correspondent
    Fall 2011
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  • Stith

    Charles Stith

    Former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania
    Fall 2002
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  • Tall and Kuusisto

    Deborah Tall and Steve Kuusisto '78

    Authors and Professors
    Fall 2006
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  • Tanner

    Michael Tanner

    Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute
    Spring 2010
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  • Thomas

    Helen Thomas

    Journalist; Correspondent for United Press International and White House Bureau Chief
    Spring 2003
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  • Todd

    Chuck Todd

    Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director for NBC News
    Fall 2010
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  • Toner

    Robin Toner

    Writer for the New York Times, Washington Bureau
    Fall 2004
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  • Townsend

    Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

    Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland; Daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel
    Fall 2009
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  • Tschetter

    Ronald A. Tschetter

    Director of the Peace Corps
    Fall 2007
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  • Vasquez

    Gaddi Vasquez

    Peace Corps Director
    Spring 2004
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  • Verveer

    Melanne Verveer

    U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues
    Spring 2011
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  • Volpe

    John Della Volpe

    Director of Polling at Harvard University's Institute of Politics (IOP) and Founder and CEO of SocialSphere, Inc.
    Fall 2016
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  • Wall

    Tara Wall

    The Washington Times' Deputy Editorial Page Editor and Columnist
    Spring 2009
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  • Walsh O'Dowd

    James Walsh & Niall O'Dowd

    Congressman (Walsh); Publisher and Analyst (O'Dowd)
    Spring 2000
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  • WALTER

    AMY WALTER

    Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report
    Fall 2024
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  • Warren

    Lovely A. Warren

    Rochester Mayor
    Spring 2016
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  • West

    Cornel West

    New York Times best-selling author
    Fall 2009
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  • West Wing

    "The 'Real' West Wing"

    Former White House staffers and a Washington Post Reporter
    Spring 2003

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  • Whitaker

    Bill Whitaker '73, L.H.D. '97

    60 Minutes Correspondent and HWS Trustee
    Fall 2015
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  • Zimpher

    Nancy L. Zimpher

    Chancellor of the State University of New York
    Spring 2015
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This information is accurate for the time period that this person(s) spoke at Hobart and William Smith.