Past Speakers

2025-26

Michael McFaul

Former U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation
A Conversation with Former Ambassador Michael McFaul
October 8, 2025 · Texas Hall
Moderated by Brian Whitmore, assistant professor of practice in the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies

2024-25

Ice-T

Musician, Actor, and Author
From the Streets to Stardom
April 16, 2025 · Texas Hall

John Quiñones

Journalist and TV Host
From the Barrio to Network Television
October 23, 2024 · Texas Hall
Sponsored by Jeff and Jani Leuschel

2023-24

PLATON

Actor, Director, TV Host
World-Renowned, Award-Winning Photographer and Founder of The People's Portfolio
Powerful Portraits
March 5, 2024 · Texas Hall

LEVAR BURTON

Actor, Director, TV Host
Star Trek, Reading Rainbow, and Roots
A Conversation with LeVar Burton
October 5, 2023 · Texas Hall

2022-23

INDRA NOOYI

Business Executive, Former CEO and Chairperson at Pepsico
A Conversation with Indra Nooyi
March 21, 2023 · Texas Hall

CARLA HALL

Celebrity Chef, TV Personality, and Author
An Inspiring Evening with Carla Hall
September 26, 2022 · Texas Hall

2021-22

SIMU LIU

Star of Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
A Conversation with Simu Liu
October 21, 2021 · Virtual Event

HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.

Emmy Award-winning Filmmaker, Literary Scholar, and Journalist
Reconstruction and Voter Suppression
September 21, 2021 · Virtual Event

2020-21

VIVEK WADHWA

Tech Entrepreneur and Bestselling Author
Navigating Technological Change at Light Speed
March 25, 2021 · Virtual Event
Sponsored by UTA College of Engineering

WYNTON MARSALIS

Pulitzer Prize-winning Musician
An Evening with Wynton Marsalis
April 27, 2021 · Virtual Event
Sponsored by Jeff and Jani Leuschel

2019-20

BOB WOODWARD

Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist
The State of the American Presidency
September 19, 2019 · Texas Hall

JACKSON KATZ

Renowned Global Thought-Leader
The Big Picture: Gender Violence in Historical, Cultural, and Political Perspectives
October 24, 2019 · Texas Hall

SAMANTHA POWER

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
The State of the World: Challenges and Opportunities
November 19, 2019 · Texas Hall

COMMON

Grammy Award-winning Artist and Activist
An Evening with Common
February 11, 2020 · College Park Center

2018-19

GRAHAM HILL

Sustainability Innovator, Entreprenuer
Removing the Unnecessary in Life and Business
September 13, 2018 · Texas Hall

TERRY CREWS

Actor, Artist, Activist
An Evening with Terry Crews
October 16, 2018 · College Park Center

NAOMI ORESKES

Science Historian, Author
The American Denial of Global Warming
November 20, 2018 · Texas Hall

JACK HANNA

Zookeeper, Animal Conservationist
An Evening with Jungle Jack Hanna
Presented by Oncor
February 5, 2019 · College Park Center

ANNA DEAVERE SMITH

Actor, Playwright, Professor
Engaging the World: The Role of the Artist in Society
March 26, 2019 · Texas Hall

2017-18

LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS

Actor, Director, and Producer
An Evening with Lou Diamond Phillips
September 7, 2017 · Texas Hall

ANOUSHEH ANSARI

Privately Funded Astronaut and CEO of Prodea Systems
My Dream of Stars
October 3, 2017 · Texas Hall

ROLAND FRYER

Economist and Harvard Professor
Solutions to Fixing Education in America: No More Excuses
November 2, 2017 · Texas Hall

MICHAEL POLLAN

Best-selling Author and Sustainable Food Advocate
One Writer’s Trip: From the Garden to the Plate and the Beyond
February 20, 2018 · Texas Hall

GRETCHEN CARLSON

Broadcast News Anchor, Journalist, and TV Host
An Evening with Female Empowerment Advocate & TV Host Gretchen Carlson
March 29, 2018 · Texas Hall

2016-17

Season presented by Overture DFW

REZA ASLAN

Author and Religious Scholar
My Journey through the World's Religions
September 13, 2016 · Texas Hall

NICHOLAS KRISTOF and SHERYL WUDUNN

Journalists and Humanitarians
A Path Appears: How an Individual can Change the World
October 6, 2016 · Texas Hall

ALEXANDRA COUSTEAU

Environmental Advocate
This Blue Planet: Preserving and Sustaining a Healthy Earth
November 3, 2016 · Texas Hall

Maverick Speakers Series Special Edition
THE HONORABLE STEPHEN BREYER

Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
December 13, 2016 · Texas Hall

KEVIN O’LEARY

Shark Tank Investor
Swimming with a Shark - An Evening with Kevin O’Leary
February 16, 2017 · College Park Center

FAREED ZAKARIA

Economic and Political Columnist and CNN Host
The Politics and Culture of the Global Economy
March 7, 2017 · College Park Center
In Partnership with Texas Health Arlington Memorial

2015-16

MIA FARROW

Actress and Activist
What Falls Away: One Woman’s Journey to Fulfillment
October 8, 2015 · Texas Hall

DAYMOND JOHN

Entrepreneur
Daymond John on Shark Tank Entrepreneurship
November 10, 2015 · College Park Center

RON PAUL

Former Congressman
Liberty Defined: The Future of Freedom
February 2, 2016 · Texas Hall

DONNA BRAZILE

Political Strategist and Media Commentator
Donna Brazile: Politics and Beyond
February 25, 2016 · Texas Hall

JANE GOODALL

Primatologist and Conservationist
Gombe and Beyond: An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall
March 31, 2016 · College Park Center

2014-15

JAMES CARVILLE & MARY MATALIN

Husband-and-Wife Political Commentators
All’s Fair: Love, War, and Politics
October 20, 2014 · Texas Hall

JAMES STAVRIDIS

Admiral, USN, (Ret), PhD
Sailing the Cyber Sea: The New Realities of 21st Century Security
November 4, 2014 · Texas Hall

MICHIO KAKU

Theoretical Physicist
Physics of the Future
February 19, 2015 · Texas Hall

HENRY CISNEROS

Urban Planning Expert
Smart Growth: Developing the Economy, Infrastructure, and a Sustainable Future
March 26, 2015 · Texas Hall

BOB COSTAS

Sportscaster
Sports in America: Is it Still Only a Game?
April 13, 2015 · College Park Center

2013-14

JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist
Define American: My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant
September 24, 2013 · Texas Hall

BILL RASMUSSEN

ESPN Founder
Share the Dream: The ESPN Story
October 24, 2013 · Texas Hall

ANDERSON COOPER

Journalist, Anchor of Anderson Cooper 360°
An Evening with Anderson Cooper
February 10, 2014 · College Park Center

SANJAY GUPTA

Neurosurgeon and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Medicine and Media
March 18, 2014 · College Park Center

NINA TOTENBERG

NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent
The Supreme Court and Its Impact on You
April 8, 2014 · Texas Hall

2012-13

FRANK DEFORD

Sportswriter and Commentator
Journalism: Sports and Beyond
September 25, 2012 · Texas Hall

COKIE ROBERTS

Political Analyst
An Insider’s View of Washington, D.C.
October 04, 2012 · Texas Hall

SETH MEYERS

Actor and Comedian
An Evening with Seth Meyers
November 19, 2012 · College Park Center

MARK KELLY

Astronaut
Endeavoring to Build a Better America
February 19, 2013 · Texas Hall

JEFF CORWIN

Television Host and Conservationist
100 Heartbeats: A Global Movement
March 27, 2013 · College Park Center

AARON NEVILLE

with special guest Ellis Marsalis
A Night with New Orleans Music Legends
April 02, 2013 · College Park Center

2011-12

EMMITT SMITH

Football Legend and Entrepreneur
A Championship Vision
October 20, 2011 · Texas Hall

BEN AND JERRY

Entrepreneurs, activists
Entrepreneurial Spirit, Social Responsibility & Radical Business Philosophy
November 17, 2011 · Texas Hall

SOLEDAD O’BRIEN

CNN anchor and special correspondent
Diversity in America
February 24, 2012 · Texas Hall

ROBERT BALLARD

Deep sea explorer, oceanographer
Adventures in Deep Sea Exploration
March 6, 2012 · Texas Hall

JEB BUSH

Former Governor of Florida
Achieving Excellence in Education
March 23, 2012 · College Park Center

2010-11

KEN BURNS

Documentary Filmmaker
An Evening with Ken Burns
September 24, 2010 · Texas Hall

RICK BAYLESS

Celebrity Chef
An Evening with a Celebrity Chef
October 14, 2010 · Lone Star Auditorium

LISA LING

Journalist, TV Host, Activist
Open Heart, Open Mind
November 23, 2010 · Texas Hall

CAL RIPKEN, JR.

Baseball Hall-of-Famer
The Keys to Perseverance
February 17, 2011 · Texas Hall

BILL NYE

Scientist, Educator, TV Host
A Night with the Science Guy
March 23, 2011 · Texas Hall

2009-10

RICHARD FLORIDA

Bestselling author and urban theorist
Creative Class Consumption
September 25, 2009 · 8:00 pm · Texas Hall

DAVID GERGEN

CNN’s senior political analyst
Eyewitness to Power
October 22, 2009 · 8:00 pm · Bluebonnet Ballroom (University Center)

JON MEACHAM

Editor of Newsweek
War, Healthcare, and the Economy: Reflections on Obama's First Year
November 16, 2009 · 8:00 pm · Texas Hall

EARVIN “MAGIC” JOHNSON, JR.

Basketball legend and business icon
32 Ways To Be a Champion in Business
February 11, 2010 · 6:00 pm · Texas Hall

SALLY RIDE

Astronaut, first American woman in space
Leadership and America’s Future in Space
February 15, 2010 · 8:00 pm · Texas Hall

JEFFERY TOOBIN

Author, legal analyst
Current Issues Facing the Courts
March 24, 2010 · 8:00 pm · Lone Star Auditorium (Maverick Activities Center)

2008-09

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution — and How It Can Revive America
September 11, 2008 · 7:30 pm · Lone Star Auditorium (Maverick Activities Center)

JUAN WILLIAMS

Emmy Award-winning American writer and radio and TV correspondent
Breaking Down Barriers: The Historic Election of 2008
October 14, 2008 · 7:30 pm · Lone Star Auditorium (Maverick Activities Center)

RONALD TAKAKI

Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, a preeminent scholar on our nation’s diversity
A discussion on diversity held in conjunction with Asian Heritage Month
November 17, 2008 · 7:00 pm · Rosebud Theatre (University Center)

DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian
A recap of the presidential election and discussion of her book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 2008 · 8:00 pm · Texas Hall

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

Astrophysicist, author, and television host
A conversation on “The Cosmic Perspective”: How the astrophysicist views life, the universe, and everything
February 17, 2009 · 8:00 pm · Texas Hall

LANI GUINIER

Harvard Legal Professor and civil rights expert
A discussion on diversity held in conjunction with UT Arlington’s Second Annual Diversity Week and Women’s History Month events
March 03, 2009 · 7:00 pm · Rosebud Theatre (University Center)

BARBARA EHRENREICH

Sociologist and best-selling author
A discussion of her books Nickel and Dimed and Bait and Switch, in conjunction with the Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES) research symposium
March 25, 2009 · 7:30 pm · Rosebud Theatre (University Center)