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Human rights activist, Linda Sarsour, will be in the Glenn Miller Ballroom on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Sarsour is renowned for her commitment to social justice and has been at the forefront of major civil rights campaigns. Most recently, she was the national co-chair of the Women’s March on Washington. She was featured on TIME’s list of “The 100 Most Influential People” in 2017 and is also the author of “We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders." As a prominent Muslim-American activist, she exemplifies the courage and resilience essential for navigating challenging and emotionally charged conversations.

Vir Das will be in Glenn Miller Ballroom Tuesday November 7th, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Vir Das is a comedian and actor who has hit the global comedy mega-leagues thanks to his boundless comedic talent, wildly successful world tours and incredible four Netflix specials. As India’s biggest stand-up comedian and a Bollywood star, Vir was the second best-selling live act in the country in 2022. He has increasingly gained worldwide appeal through his various international tours as well as his beloved appearances in multiple comedy fan-favorite films and TV series. 

We are collaborating with Program Council to bring Cordae, along with N3ptune and Rusty Steve on April 21, 2023, in Glenn Miller Ballroom! Hailing from the East Coast, Cordae cites rap legends Nas and Jay-Z not only as his favorite artists but major influences on his music. Cordae has been nominated for three Grammy's! N3ptune and Rusty Steve are both Colorado-originating artists. N3eptune has opened shows for founding members of the Fugees, Wyclef Jean, as well as pop and movie star Rina Sawayma. In addition, to producing as N3ptune's musical partner, Rusty Steve is also a fashion designer!

Born an Indigenous Andean in Venezuela, Chef Andrea Murdoch was adopted and grew up in rural Ohio, where she lived in between cultures. Combining her Indigenous identity with her training from the legendary Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, Chef Andrea is dedicated to uplifting delicious, healthy and sustainable food as a way of celebrating life and honoring mother earth. Not only does she source her ingredients locally and Indigenously, she grows and forages for food whenever possible. 

Rita Moreno will be in Glenn Miller Ballroom on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Rita has appeared in more than 40 feature films, and countless television shows, and has performed in numerous regional theaters. Most notably, she played Anita in the original West Side Story. Rita is one of only 17 people to have received all four of the most prestigious awards in show business: an Oscar, a Tony, two Emmys, and a Grammy. She has also received the Peabody Career Achievement Award, the President Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Arts. Outside of her acting career, Rita is an outspoken activist for racial and gender equality.

Angelica Ross, a dynamic actor, speaker, businesswoman, and activist, will be in Glenn Miller Ballroom on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at 7:00 pm. Her roles in groundbreaking shows and media like Her Story, Pose, and Framing Agnes has been instrumental in increasing trans representation in Hollywood. After teaching herself how to code, Angelica went on to become the founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, a firm that helps employ transgender people in the tech industry. An Evening with Angelica Ross is being hosted by the Cultural Events Board and the TRANSforming Gender Conference.

Simu Liu will be in Macky Auditorium Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 7:00 pm. Simu Liu made history in 2021 with Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, where he became the first Asian-Canadian lead in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Liu also starred in the CBC/Netflix comedy series Kim’s Convenience, which featured an all-Asian lead cast. As an outspoken advocate, Liu has confronted anti-Asian discrimination in Hollywood and beyond. An Evening with Simu Liu will be hosted by the Cultural Events Board and the Distinguished Speakers Board. 

America Ferrera will be at the CU Events Center on September 1, 2021, at 7:00 pm. America Ferrera is an American actress, producer and director. She is best known for playing Betty Suarez on ABC's Ugly Betty from 2006 to 2010 — for which she became the first Latinx woman to win an Emmy for leading actress in a comedy in 2007 — and as Amy Sosa on NBC's Superstore from 2015 to 2021. Ferrera also starred in Real Women Have Curves (2002), Lords of Dogtown (2005) and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies (2005 and 2008).

Jameela Jamil will be at the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ on April 8, 2021, at 6:00 pm. Jameela Jamil is a one-of-a-kind multi-hyphenate. In 2016, Jameela made her move to United States television where she was cast by Mike Schur to portray the role of Tahani on NBC’s critically acclaimed The Good Place. A passionate advocate for many causes, in 2018, Jameela launched a movement and social media platform @i_Weigh which encourages women to feel valuable and look beyond the flesh on their bones. The movement has been recognized by both media outlets and the movement’s hundreds of thousands of followers over the world.

Schuyler Bailar will be at the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ on March 24, 2021, at 6:00 pm. Schuyler Bailar is the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team. By 15, he was one of the nation’s top 20 15-year-old breaststrokers. By 17, he set a national age-group record. Schuyler’s difficult choice – to transition while potentially giving up the prospect of being an NCAA Champion – was historic and timely. Schuyler’s tireless advocacy of inclusion through public speaking and social media (@pinkmantaray) has earned him numerous notable honors.

Rico Nasty, the queen of punk rap, will be speaking on February 23, 2021, at 6:00 pm. After years of inciting mosh pits internationally, the 23-year-old has successfully created her own lane as an artist. But although she’s spent time cultivating her sound, Rico has remained malleable—evolving from the pop-tinged Sugar Trap era to the more raucous, hard-hitting energy of her recently released debut album, Nightmare Vacation. 

The Cultural Events Board is excited to celebrate Latinx History Month with Julissa Calderon and Gadiel del Orbe on October 21, 2020. Del Orbe and Calderon are innovators redefining American television and popular media. 

The founders of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi, and Alicia Garza will be speaking on September 16, 2020, at 6:00 pm. This event will center around the current political climate and the Black Lives Matter movement, exploring its roots in what has been accomplished today. An Evening with BLM Founders is being hosted by the Cultural Events Board and the Distinguished Speakers Board.

Trevor Noah will be speaking virtually on August 22, 2020, at 8 pm. Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, television host, actor, and political commentator. He is the host of The Daily Show, an American satirical news program on Comedy Central. An Evening with Trevor Noah will be hosted by the Cultural Events Board and the Distinguished Speakers Board.

Raymond Santana & Yusef Salaam from the Exonerated Five will be in Glenn Miller Ballroom on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 7:00 PM. Wrongly convicted for the 1989 assault and rape of a female jogger in Central Park, five Black and Latino men, including Raymond Santana and Yusef Salaam, served years in prison for a crime they didn't commit. Now apart of "The Exonerated Five", the group has been committed to advocating and educating people on the disparities in America's criminal justice system.

John Kasich, former Ohio Governor, 2016 Presidential Candidate, television news host, and author will speak at the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ’s Macky Auditorium on Thursday, October 24, 2019. An Evening with John Kasich, is being hosted by the Cultural Events Board. 

CEB is excited to announce that our first speaker of the semester is ISRA CHAKER! She will be in the Glenn Miller Ballroom on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 7:00 pm. As a civil rights activist, and because of her personal connection to and direct impact by the Muslim Ban, she is very passionate in her efforts to reunite families and advocate for vulnerable people. Chaker empowers individuals to use their personal stories and voices to create change in their own communities.

Tarana Burke will be at the Macky Auditorium on April 15th. Burke started  the 'me too' movement in 2006 and now know known as the founder of the movement. The movement went on to become a global phenomenom that raised awareness about sexual harrasment, abuse, assult, and rape. 

Viola Davis, a 3 time Grammy winner and 13 time nominee actress and producer, is visiting ��ƷSM����ӰƬ on April 4th, 2019. Tickets are available starting March 11th at the UMC. Davis is known for her award winning acting in 'How to Get Away With Murder', 'The Help, the Broadway productions of 'King Hedley II', and 'Fences'. Davis is the first black actor to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting: by winning an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony all in acting categories. 

In 2000, Kevin Hines attemped to committ suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco but survived. He is one of the 25 out of 1700 people to survive attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Later, Hines went on to become a mental health advocate and suicide prevention speaker by traveling the world and sharing his story. He visited ��ƷSM����ӰƬ on November 12th to raise awareness for mental illnesses and suicide prevention resources. 

Hasan Minhaj is comedian, political commentator, and writer best known for being the senior correspondent on the Daily Show, the featured speaker for the White House Correspondence Dinner, and his stand-up and Netflix orignal 'Homecoming King'. Minhaj will soon go onto become the host for a Netflix original political and comedy show named 'The Patriot Act.'