WMA College Insider
Lectures

Spring 2006

Highlighted Speakers

This is only a small selection of our speakers. For the complete roster, please go here

JESSICA WEINER

Jessica Weiner is an actionist – motivating and inspiring people to take action in their everyday lives through her ground breaking and empowering work as an author, speaker, performer and role model. The "next Oprah Winfrey" (as dubbed by The Hollywood Reporter) has been featured on Oprah, CNN, MTV, The View, Good Morning America and in The Washington Post, Teen People and countless other media outlets. "A Very Hungry Girl," Jessica’s first book, chronicles her own self-discovery and ultimate recovery from an eating disorder, and explores how she has helped thousands of young people address a multitude of self-esteem related issues. Jessica has also written numerous social issue plays covering a wide variety of topics which include eating disorders, relationships, school violence, date rape and hate crimes. Jessica's new book, "Do I Look Fat In This," was released in January 2006.

For more information about Jessica Weiner, check out her website at http://www.jessicaweiner.com.

KEN BURNS

Ken Burns has been making films for more than thirty years. Since the Academy Award nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Ken has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War (1990), Baseball (2001) and Jazz (2001). He is currently working on a film about the American home front during World War II. The historian Stephen Ambrose has said of his films, "More Americans get their history from Ken Burns than any other source." A December 2002 poll conducted by Real Screen Magazine listed The Civil War as second only to Robert Flaherty's Nanook of the North as the "most influential documentary of all time." Ken was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. He graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1975 and went on to be one of the co-founders of Florentine Films. He presently resides in Walpole, New Hampshire, and New York City.

As a scientist, comedian, teacher, author, inventor, and television host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, Nye has successfully proven to people of all ages that science can be fun. His show has won 16 Daytime Emmy Awards, and continues to be a powerful tool in teaching all aspects of science.

Al Franken is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer, New York Times best-selling author, and Grammy- winning comedian. In 1975, Franken was part of the original writing staff that created the groundbreaking late night show Saturday Night Live. He grew up in Minnesota and is a graduate of Harvard College. He has been married to Franni Franken for twenty-seven years. They live in New York City and have two children.

Darrell Hammond has brought to life a cavalcade of politicians, media figures, celebrities and news makers on television as a SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE cast member for six years. He frequently tours boasting a number of brilliant impressions that keep people laughing nationwide including an impression of Al Gore that was so powerful that it was said the former Vice President studied Darrell's gestures in preparation for the Presidential debates. Others he has mimicked include: Bill Clinton, Sean Connery, Regis Philbin, Dan Rather, John Travolta, Jesse Jackson, Richard Dreyfus, Jay Leno and Ted Koppel.

Joy Behar, currently a co-host of ABC's "The View," is among today's leading comic talents. Whether performing standup comedy or interviewing politicians and artists, she is a comedic original and a leading woman both on stage and screen. On "The View" Joy and her co-hosts discuss relevant, everyday issues and share their daily, no-holds-barred opinions and lively, colorful conversations. The program premiered in August, 1997, and is broadcast live from New York City. “The View” has received 16 Daytime Emmy Awards and has been nominated each year for Outstanding Talk Show and for Ms. Behar and her co-hosts as Outstanding Talk Show Host.

Stuart Scott is one of ESPN’s most recognizable and quotable personalities. He’s taken broadcast journalism by storm with his delivery of hardcore sports information and insights packaged with urban/hip-hop flavor. The result is his highly entertaining presence on ESPN’s SportsCenter where he anchors their flagship 11 P.M. broadcast. Additionally, Stuart hosts ESPN Monday Night NFL Countdown, NBA Wednesday and ESPN’s reality series Dream Job. Stuart has also been featured in various commercials, music videos and major motion pictures further adding to his cultural iconic status. His speaking engagements are filled with the intellect, charisma and humor that are evident when over a million people watch him every night.

Ted Allen has been a contributing editor to Esquire magazine since July 1997. He is also the co-author of the magazine’s "Things a Man Should Know" column. Before joining Esquire, Ted was a senior editor at Chicago Magazine, where he wrote stories for the dining department, including a popular piece in which the city’s top food critics were called upon to prove that they could actually cook. For three years Ted wrote a column on wine and spirits called "In the Spirit: The Intelligent Barfly." Ted and his partner are proud members of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (www.nlgja.org), and of the Human Rights Campaign (www.hrc.org).

In the summer of 2001 Amanda Diva burst onto the scene as a spoken word artist with an energetic blend of hip-hop, Black history, humor and intensity. Amanda filled the roll as the “face of hip-hop” for MTV2 and you can also hear her rockin’ the airwaves at Sirius Satellite Radio Monday through Friday “Hip-hop Nation.” She has appeared twice on Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. She has a Masters Degree from Columbia and she serves as a writer for AllHipHop.com.

Alexandra graduated from Brown University in 1997 and earned an MFA in from The American Film Institute in 2004. Her thesis film debuted at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, won top honors at the Austin Film Festival and earned her the "Director of the Year" award from AFI.

Now developing her first feature film, Alexandra is currently in the editing room working on her documentary about the 2004 Presidential Election. Shot from her unique insider's perspective as the daughter of Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry, the independently financed documentary will be released in 2005.

Bernard Goldberg, the television news reporter and author of "Bias," a New York Times number one best seller about how the media distorts the news, is widely seen as one of the most original writers and thinkers in broadcast journalism. He has covered stories all over the world for CBS News and has won six Emmy awards for his work as a senior correspondent on the CBS News broadcast 48 Hours.

Goldberg now reports for the critically acclaimed HBO programs Real Sports which is hosted by Bryant Gumbel. In April 2001, Bernie won his seventh Emmy – this one for Outstanding Sports Journalism, for a Real Sports story entitled, “Dominican Free for All,” an investigative report on major league baseball recruiting in the Dominican Republic.

Before the age of twenty-one, Barry Minkow became the youngest CEO of a publicly traded company in the history of Wall Street when he took his carpet cleaning company public to the tune of two-hundred and eighty million dollars. However, at the time, no one knew that Barry was also involved with the mob. Over the next year, Barry’s company, ZZZZ Best, defrauded his investors, pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit money. Caught and prosecuted, Barry served seven years and four months in prison, most in maximum security. Today, a consultant and trainer to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, Barry has co-founded the Fraud Discovery Institute (FDI), a company that uses ex-cons alongside seasoned auditors to prevent and detect white collar fraud at the highest levels. An accomplished author and speaker, Barry travels the country speaking to students, executives and investors alike about the dangers of corporate fraud and the techniques criminals use to deceive victims.

MARC SALEM

Marc Salem has been a student of the human mind for over 30 years. He is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on non-verbal communication. He has performed his show MIND GAMES around the world, astounding and baffling millions. He always leaves his audience laughing, thinking and thoroughly entertained.

His show MIND GAMES concluded a run on Broadway and he has performed two extended runs off –Broadway – all of which received both critical and popular acclaim. He has just completed a year long world tour performing to sell out audiences.

ERIN BROCKOVICH

A single mother trying to support three young children, Erin Brockovich, worked as a file clerk at the law firm Masry & Vitotoe. It was during this time that she uncovered the information that enabled her to spearhead a direct action lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Company, resulting in the largest toxic tort injury settlement in U.S. History. ERIN'S tireless investigation, as well as her personal and legal triumphs, were dramatized in the hit movie, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts.

She currently serves as the Director of Research for the law firm Masry & Vititoe, where she is involved in other major environmental lawsuits.

Erin is the author of the best-selling book Take It From Me, Life's a Struggle But You Can Win.

Chris Gardner's amazing rags-to-riches story will be seen on the big screen next year with the release of the feature film, "The Pursuit of Happyness," starring Will Smith as Chris and Smith's real-life son, Jaden. Gardner is an inspiration to anyone who ever thought their goals were impossible to reach. His story is a testament to the strength of the human will under seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Twenty five years ago Gardner was a poverty-stricken single father who called an Oakland subway station bathroom home. Yet somehow, he never lost hope. His unwavering desire for success landed him several jobs on Wall Street before he launched his own immensely successful firm, Chicago-based Gardner Rich & Co. He has been featured in numerous magazines, newspapers, radio and television shows, most notably "20/20 with Barbara Walters." Gardner has used his success to give back to his community and donate to charitable organizations. He firmly believes in the importance of education and serves as a Board member of the National Education Association.

Bill Rancic founded cigarsaround theworld.com eight years ago in a 400 sq. foot studio apartment. Today it is a thriving multi-million dollar national operation. The son of educators, he is a true entrepreneur, paying his way through college by starting a boat wash and wax business in the Chicago area. He is also an adventure junkie. When he is not making business deals, he enjoys skydiving and scuba diving. In addition to his cigar company, Bill also develops real estate, and speaks at universities and businesses around the country.

As the winner of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” Bill has been appointed to direct construction of the 90-story Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago for at least one year.

Margaret delivers a strong message that is particularly pertinent to college students, with topics ranging from images of women in the media, self-esteem, eating disorders, and other feminist issues to gay and lesbian rights, minority concerns, Asian-awareness, and discrimination of all kinds. Margaret's smash off-Broadway hit, "I'm The One That I Want," toured the country, was made into a movie, and was published into a best-selling book. "Notorious C.H.O." followed, and most recently, Margaret completed a record setting 40-city tour with her show, "Revolution."

The consummate entertainer, Belafonte is a world-renowned recording artist, Broadway, movie and TV star and globally respected human rights activist. The winner of countless awards for his work as an artist and humanitarian, he continues to fight against injustice throughout the world.

Stephen J. Dubner is a co-author of the best-selling book "FREAKONOMICS." He is also the best-selling author of "Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family" and "Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper." He is also an award-winning journalist, a former editor and current contributor for the New York Times Magazine. Dubner has given hundreds of lectures at universities, synagogues and churches across the country.

JUDITH WARNER

Judith Warner’s most recent book, Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety, was an instant New York Times best-seller when it was published in February, 2005. She currently writes the “Domestic Disturbances” column for the New York Times and is the host of “The Judith Warner Show” on xm satellite radio. She is also the author of a range of nonfiction books, among them You Have the Power: How to Take Back Our Country and Restore Democracy to America (with Howard Dean) and the best-selling biography Hillary Clinton: The Inside Story. A former special correspondent for Newsweek in Paris, she reviews books for The New York Times and has written about politics and women’s issues for magazines including The New Republic and Elle. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and their children.

Craven has directed some of the most relentless and successful movies of all time, from A Nightmare on Elm Street, to the Scream Trilogy. Speaking about horror movies, Craven has said, "It’s like boot camp for the psyche. In real life, human beings are packaged in the flimsiest of packages, threatened by real and sometimes horrifying dangers, events like Columbine. The narrative form puts these fears into a manageable series of events. It gives us a way of thinking rationally about out fears.

As co-host of ABC’s extremely popular morning show The View, Ling and her associates discussed a myriad of topics that effect women in the world today. Recently named "Hot Reporter" in Rolling Stone magazine’s annual "Hot List," as well as one of Cosmopolitan magazine’s "Fun, Fearless Females," Ling is now the face of the National Geographic Network. She has also appeared on the covers of TV Guide and Ladies Home Journal.

Susie Essman has been featured in all four seasons of the critically-acclaimed HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, playing the no-nonsense wife of the rotund, cheerful agent Jeff Greene. The Manhattan-based Essman has logged thousands of performances on the Gotham comedy circuit including the Caroline’s and Stand Up NY. She has appeared in her own half-hour HBO comedy special, hosted the American Comedy Awards, and performed on Comedy Central's "The Friar's Roast of Jerry Stiller", "Politically Incorrect" and "The Tonight Show.”

Fisher survived hell and lived to tell about it in his best-selling memoir, Finding Fish. Born in prison and placed in an abusive foster home for 14 years, Fisher escaped and created a new life for himself. Now a Hollywood screenwriter and producer, Fisher’s amazing story is told in the film Antwone Fisher. The film stars Denzel Washington, who makes his directorial debut.

Like her father Malcolm X, Shabazz feels strongly about educating and inspiring young people throughout the world. She understands the importance of her father’s legacy and continues to spread messages of self-empowerment to future generations. She recently completed Growing Up X, a novel about her childhood and the mission of Malcolm X.

Lily Tomlin, one of America's foremost comediennes, continues to venture across an ever-widening range of media, starring in television, theater, motion pictures, animation, and video. Throughout her extraordinary entertainment career, Tomlin has received numerous awards, including six Emmys, two Tonys, a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics’ Circle Award. In 2002, Tomlin joined the cast of the hit NBC series, The West Wing, playing President Bartlett’s assistant, Debbie Fiderer--a role for which she received a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Currently, she is preparing to film A Prairie Home Companion for Robert Altman also starring Meryl Streep, Maya Rudolph and Lindsey Lohan.

For more information, contact:

Jeff Lesh
William Morris Agency
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 903-1372
JLESH@wmeentertainment.com