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Distinguished Speaker Series

Student Activities Office of Student Life and Dean of Students

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  • DSS Home
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Student Activities
BSTUN 1.28 | EUCTR 215
Email: studentactivities@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-882-5111
Phone Alt: 956-665-7364
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Appearance Request Form DSS Speaker Suggestion Form Join the Campus Activities Board Setup Your Profile on V Link

Distinguished Speaker Series

About the program

The Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) is a signature program under the leadership of Student Activities, that aims to provide the university and surrounding community with world-class speakers and lecturers. DSS hosts public events with priority seating for UTRGV students, faculty, and staff.

The series has brought in notable speakers such as the former leader of Russia Mikhail Gorbachev, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, author, and civil rights activist the late Dr. Maya Angelou, Emmy award-winning CNN host Larry King, and Grammy/Oscar award-winning R&B artist John Legend.

2022-2023 Speaker Lineup

Marlee Matlin

March 22, 2023

Marlee Matlin

Academy Award-Winning Actress & Activist

TSC Performing Arts Complex | Brownsville, TX


Previous Speakers

2021-2022 Speaker Lineup

Eduardo Chavez

March 29, 2022

Eduardo Chavez

Director, Speaker, Activist, Podcast Host, and Grandson of César Chávez

PlainsCapital El Gran Salon

Brownsville, TX

Lana Condor

March 2, 2022

Lana Condor

Actress, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, X-Men Apocalypse

Virtual Event

Common

February 1, 2022 (New Date)

Common

Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Grammy-winning Artist, Actor, and Activist.

Performing Arts Center

Edinburg, TX

John Quinones

September 21, 2021

John Quinones

ABC News Veteran, Creator & Host, What Would You Do?

TSC Performing Arts Complex

Brownsville, TX

2020-2021 DSS Speaker Lineup

Terry Crews Profile photo

February 8, 2021

Terry Crews

Actor, Artist & Activist

Virtual Event

Anderson Cooper

November 14, 2020

Anderson Cooper

CNN News Anchor, Host of Anderson 360

Virtual Event

John Leguizamo

September 24, 2020

John Leguizamo

Actor, Voice Actor, Stand-Up Comedian, Producer,

Playwright & Screenwriter

Virtual Event

Johnny Cupcakes

September 16, 2020

Johnny Earle (a.k.a. Johnny Cupcakes)

Keynote Speaker for L.E.A.D. Conference

CEO, Johnny Cupcakes, Award-Winning Entrepreneur & Brand Hysteria Expert, and Top Innovator in Retail. 

Virtual Event

2019-2020 DSS Speaker Lineup

Ruth Carter

March 2, 2020

Ruth Carter

Academy Award Winning Costume Designer

Edinburg, TX

Emmitt Smith

September 26, 2019

Emmitt Smith

Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back, Businessman, and Entrepreneur

Edinburg, TX

2018-2019
"Celebrating 15 years for DSS"

2018-2019 DSS Speaker Lineup

George Takei

January 28, 2019

George Takei

Actor, Social Justice Activist, and Social Media Mega-Power

Brownsville, TX

Wilmer Valderrama

September 27, 2018

Wilmer Valderrama

Actor, Producer, and Activist

Edinburg, TX

2017-2018 DSS Speaker Lineup

Daymond John

March 7, 2018

Daymond John

American Businessman, Investor, Television Personality from ABC’s Shark Tank, Author, and Motivational Speaker

Edinburg, TX

Diane Guerrero

February 1, 2018

Diane Guerrero

Actress and Author, White House Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization

Brownsville, TX

Julian Castro

September 27, 2017

Julian Castro

Former United States Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Former Mayor, San Antonio, TX

Edinburg, TX

 

2016-2017 DSS Speaker Lineup

Alison Levine

March 29, 2017

Alison Levine

American mountain climber, sportswoman, explorer, and leadership consultant

Brownsville, TX

Laverne Cox

February 8, 2017

Laverne Cox

American actress and LGBT advocate

Edinburg, TX

J.R. Martinez

November 7, 2016

J.R. Martinez

American actor, motivational speaker, and former U.S. Army soldier.

Edinburg, TX

Albert Manero

October 4, 2016

Albert Manero

Engineer & Co-Founder of Limbitless Solutions

Edinburg, TX

2015-2016 DSS Speaker Lineup

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield

April 12, 2016

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield

Co-Founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, American Businessmen, activists, and philanthropists.

Edinburg, TX

Neil Pasricha

January 28, 2016

Neil Pasricha

Canadian author, entrepreneur, podcaster, and public speaker

Brownsville, TX

Soledad O'Brien

October 5, 2015

Soledad O'Brien

I am Latino in America Tour

Edinburg, TX

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