Colleges & Universities

Caylin Moore's remarkable, against-all-odds journey from the cruel poverty of gang-ridden Los Angeles to becoming a Rhodes Scholar attending Oxford University is a true testament to the power of the human spirit. His message is simple: “You have to dream dreams that are so big, so unimaginable, so unfathomable, so unrealistic that they’re destined to fail without divine intervention.” Through the power of education, Caylin did just that.

Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Laureate known as “Africa’s Iron Lady,” has been appointed Health Workforce Ambassador by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In commemoration of the 1970 Kent State shootings that shook the American conscience and changed the course of the Vietnam War, APB Speakers is partnering with KSU to market an exclusive 50th anniversary program. “Kent State: The Lessons. The Legacy” features the firsthand accounts of survivors of the sixty-seven rounds fired at student Vietnam War protesters by Ohio National Guardsmen, killing four and wounding nine. The program merges the history of turbulent times with its lasting impact on the evolution of activism, especially student activism. 

According to APB speaker Dr. Mary Frances Berry, affirmative action died a long time ago, yet no one seemed to notice. A widely read author, activist, educator and historian, Berry recently penned an article on affirmative action in The North Star, writing "In truth, its death was predictable in the late 1960s when President Richard Nixon, faced with a radicalized Black Power movement that demanded reparations for slavery, used the federal non-discrimination statute (also known as Executive Order 11246) to appease Black folk.” 

From being locked in a closet for days at a time by her mother to sexual abuse by an uncle—to overcoming tremendous odds to achieve her biggest dream—Christina’s Meredith’s story uplifts, inspires and provides unforgettable life lessons.  

APB speaker David Hogg, co-founder of March For Our Lives, was recently named “Communicator of the Year” at the 2019 PRWeek Awards. One of the most compelling voices of his generation. His call to “get over politics and get something done” challenges Americans to stand up, speak out and work to elect morally just leaders, regardless of party affiliation. He was awarded the communicator of the year for his impact on civic engagement. Watch his compelling acceptance speech here.

APB speaker, educator and best-selling author of The Gift of Failure Jessica Lahey gave her opinion on the college admissions scandal in a Washington Post article. A highly sought-after speaker, Lahey addresses “overparenting” with the authority of an experienced teacher and the empathetic, often humorous, personal perspective of a mom who has truly been there. 

New York Times best-selling author, musician and APB speaker James McBride wrote The Good Lord Bird, a powerful story of John Brown, a white American abolitionist who in 1859—along with 19 others—attacked the largest arsenal of weapons in America, ultimately prompting the Civil War. The winner of the National Book Award for Fiction in 2013, the book is now being adapted into an eight-part series by Showtime, set to star Ethan Hawke. 

Following up on her acclaimed New York Times bestseller Who Thought This Was a Good Idea, Alyssa Mastromonaco shares stories and reflections that are a far cry from the typical career memoir. From the time that former Secretary of State John Kerry accidentally walked in on her dancing in her underwear to a dance-off with Jennifer Hudson (at President Obama’s urging) to conserving tampons on the road in Japan, Mastromonaco shines with her candid recollections and laugh-out-loud wit. 

APB speaker and creator of the popular blog Wait But Why, Tim Urban, was featured in the Netflix documentary Behind the Curve. Exploring the rising movement of those who believe the earth is flat, the documentary has already received widespread critical acclaim.