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Distinguished Speaker Series

Student Activities Department of Student Involvement

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Student Activities

Brownsville - Student Union 1.28
956-882-5111

Edinburg - University Center 215
956-665-7364


Email: studentactivities@utrgv.edu
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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.

2020-2021 Speaker Lineup 

17th Season Speaker Lineup
Terry Crews Profile photo

 

February 8, 2021

Terry Crews 

Actor, Artist & Activist

Virtual Event - RSVP Here

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



Previous Speakers

2019-2020

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

Wilmer Valderrama

September 27, 2018

Wilmer Valderrama

Actor, Producer and Activist

2017-2018

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

Diane Guerrero

February 1, 2018

Diane Guerrero

Actress and Author

White House Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization

Julian Castro

September 27, 2017

Julian Castro

Former United States Housing and Urban Development Secretary

Former Mayor, San Antonio, TX

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