The speaker series offers the university community and general public a wealth of perspectives, experiences and insights presented by a wide variety of leaders and luminaries of our time.

Introduced by President Dana Mohler-Faria in 2006, the series has featured the following speakers:

Valentina "Tina" R. Merdanian
Community leader and lecturer

Dr. Benjamin Carson
Celebrated pediatric neurosurgeon

Angela Davis
Activist, professor, author

Shannon Brownlee
Expert on American health care reform

Michael Pollan
Best-selling author, professor of journalism

David Gergen
Political analyst, presidential adviser, magazine editor

Terry McMillan
Novelist, columnist, editor

Dr. Sherry Turkle
Professor, researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bill Nye
Scientist, engineer, comedian, author and inventor

Katty Kay
BBC Washington correspondent, anchor of BBCWorld

Distinguished Speaker Series

Spring 2012

Bill Strickland

BILL STRICKLAND

Entrepreneur, social activist and author

Thursday, March 29, 2012, 7:00 PM
Boyden Hall, Horace Mann Auditorium

For 30 years, Bill Strickland has transformed thousands of lives, restored our faith in ethical leadership, and reshaped the business of social change. As president and CEO of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation - an extraordinary jobs training center and community arts program - he and his staff work with corporations, community leaders and schools to give disadvantaged kids and adults the opportunities they need to build a better future. Centers are currently open in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and San Francisco with plans to open more in the future. For years, in front of enraptured audiences, this MacArthur Genius has shared his unshakable message of leadership, self-worth and the intrinsic ability in all of us to achieve remarkable transformation in our lives. "Bill Strickland is a genius," said former eBay president Jeff Skoll, "because he sees the inherent genius in everyone."

Mr. Strickland is also the author of Make the Impossible Possible, a recipient of The White House's "Coming Up Taller" Award and founder of MCG Jazz, the most successful jazz subscription series in America.

Admission is free to Bridgewater State University Distinguished Speaker Series presentations, but reservations are required. E-mail presidentevents@bridgew.edu or call the President's Office Events Line at 508.531.6123.

For information about other events at Bridgewater State University, visit www.bridgew.edu.

Directions to BSU and a campus map that includes parking areas can be found at www.bridgew.edu/directions.cfm.

Last Modified: March 7, 2012