skip to main content
UTRGV

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Main Menu
Donate Now Directory myUTRGV

You are here:

Distinguished Speaker Series

Student Activities Office of Student Life and Dean of Students

  • Home
  • Civic Engagement
    • Vaqueros Vote
      • Early Voting
      • Turbo Vote
  • Campus Activities Board
    • Events
    • Membership
      • Executive Board
  • Distinguished Speaker Series
    • Committee
  • Pride and Signature Events
    • Alma Mater
    • Charreada
    • Commencement Bell Ringers
    • Homecoming
    • Mission and Traditions
    • UTRGV Royals
    • Welcome Week
  • Spirit Program
    • Coed Cheer Team
      • Fight Song Videos
      • Roster
      • Tryout Information
    • Dance Team
      • Fight Song Videos
      • Roster
      • Tryout Information
    • Mascot Team
    • The Herd
    • Appearance Request
  • About
    • Staff

Distinguished Speaker Series - Related Links

  • DSS Home
  • Committee

Contact Us

Student Activities
BSTUN 1.28 | EUCTR 215
Email: studentactivities@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-882-5111
Phone Alt: 956-665-7364
Facebook Twitter Instagram

Quick Links

Spirit Program Request Form DSS Speaker Suggestion Form Join the Campus Activities Board Event Suggestion Form 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 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 

A speaker lineup will be announced soon.

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  | RSVP for Event Here

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 | RSVP for event on VLink

Can't attend in person; register for the virtual event here: https://alumlc.org/utrgv/13412

John Quinones

September 21, 2021

John Quinones

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

TSC Performing Arts Complex

Brownsville, TX


Previous Speakers

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 

Jump to Top

UTRGV

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • CARES, CRRSAA and ARP Reporting
  • Site Policies
  • Contact UTRGV
  • Required Links
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Senate Bill 18 Reporting
  • UTRGV Careers
  • Clery Act Reports
  • Web Accessibility
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Reporting Sexual Misconduct