Past Speakers
Since 1987, the Distinguished Speakers Series has expanded to include internationally renowned scientists, authors, media experts and other leaders from a multitude of fields—all of whom continue to bring a crowd of people to UB each year.
Speakers By Year
Photo Highlights
"Legally Blonde" actress, Selma Blair, speaking at the Center for the Arts on March 15, 2023.
Former President & Direct-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Sherrilyn Ifill, speaking at the Center for the Arts on Feb. 16, 2023.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, speaking at the Center for the Arts on Nov. 15, 2022.
Actor and comedian, Ken Jeong, speaking at the Center for the Arts on Oct. 11, 2022.
Host of "Wildlife Nation," Jeff Corwin, showing the audience a baby sloth at the Center for the Arts on Apr. 5, 2022
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Creator of "The 1619 Project," Nikole Hannah-Jones, speaking at the Center for the Arts on Feb. 16, 2022
Gold Medal-Winning Gymnast, Aly Raisman, speaking at the Center for the Arts on Nov. 16, 2021
Virtual event with Tabitha Brown, Actress and Vegan Foodie, Apr. 14, 2021
Social Activist, Patrisse Cullors, speaks at a virtual event on Feb. 10, 2021
Tony Award-Winning Actor & Musician, Leslie Odom Jr., performed at a virtual event on Oct. 14, 2020
Daymond John in the Center for the Arts on Mar 11, 2020
Yusef Salaam in Alumni Arena on Feb 24, 2020
Pulitzer Prize winner Maggie Haberman in the Center for the Arts on Nov. 14, 2019
Nyle DiMarco addresses the crowd using American Sign Language in the Center for the Arts on Oct. 23, 2019
Condoleezza Rice (U.S. Secretary of State from 2005-09) at Alumni Arena on April 17, 2019
Ronan Farrow (Pulitzer Prize-Winning Investigative Reporter) at the Center for the Arts on March 28, 2019
Angela Davis (Social Equality Activist and Author) at Alumni Arena on February 27, 2019
Lisa Genova (Neuroscientist and Bestselling Author of “Still Alice”) at the Center for the Arts on December 6, 2018
Peter Diamandis (Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation) with the Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Tom Ulbrich, at the Center for the Arts on November 14, 2018
A full house during Vice President Joe Biden's lecture in Alumni Arena on October 25, 2018.
Vice President Joe Biden (47th Vice President of the United States from 2009-17) at Alumni Arena on October 25, 2018
Alan Alda (TV Icon and Science Communicator) at Alumni Arena on May 2, 2018
James Balog (Global Expert on Climate Change and Founder of the Extreme Ice Survey) at Alumni Arena on April 12, 2018
Susan Rice (Former U.S. National Security Advisor from 2013-17) at Alumni Arena on February 28, 2018
Jesse Williams (Actor and Activist) at Alumni Arena on November, 18, 2017
Theresa Payton (Former White House CIO and Cyber Security CEO) at Alumni Arena on October 18, 2017
A sold out audience in Alumni Arena highly anticipates Malala Yousafzai taking the stage.
Malala Yousafzai (Girls Education Activist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner) at Alumni Arena on September 19, 2017
John Legend (Academy Award-Winning Songwriter, Singer, Musician, Producer, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur) at UB's Alumni Arena on December 3, 2015
John Oliver (Political Satirist and Star of HBO's "Last week Tonight with John Oliver") at Alumni Arena on December 3, 2014
David Blaine (Endurance Artist and World Renowned Magician) with audience members on stage at Alumni Arena on April 26, 2014
Sanjay Gupta (Emmy Award-Winning Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN) at Alumni Arena on March 26, 2014
Mary Frances Berry (Author, Educator and Historian) and Diane Nash (Civil Rights and Peace Activist) at the Center for the Arts on February 26, 2014
Walter Mosley (Novelist and Social Commentator) at the Center for the Arts on February 28, 2013
The Dalai Lama (The Head of state in exile of Tibet and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people) at UB Stadium on September 19, 2006
A sold out Distinguished Speakers Series event in Alumni Arena.