40 Years of Exceptional Programs For audiences eager to hear illuminating discussions by today’s most in-demand speakers, William Paterson University offers the Distinguished Lecturer Series (DLS)—an event that began in 1980 and brings illustrious personalities from the worlds of politics, government, the arts, literature, sports, science, and business, along with original programs—to Wayne, New Jersey. Jon Meacham, one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals and a New York Times best-selling author, spoke to a full house at the Shea Center for Performing Arts in the fall about the 2016 presidential election. Previous speakers include Robert Krulwich, Mitch Albom, Jacques Pepin and Claudia Pepin, Daniel Levitin and Roseanne Cash, Harold Prince, Gloria Steinem, Diane Ravitch. actor Al Pacino, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox general managers Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein, musical theatre composer Stephen Sondheim, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, film directors Oliver Stone and Spike Lee, performer Gregory Hines, and writers Alice Walker and Joyce Carol Oates to more than 100,000 audience members who have attended DLS since its inception.More than 175 public figures have come to speak on the University’s Distinguished Lecturer Series since its inauguration on February 11, 1980. In November 2016, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, presidential historian, and contributing editor at TIME, Jon Meacham, sat down for an interview with WP student and host of WPTV's News Now, Aziza Kabibi. Later that evening, Meacham shared his expertise in politics and offered an unbiased, bipartisan perspective on the 2016 presidential election. Photo: Jon Meacham and Aziza Kabibi In February 2016, Grammy Award-winning singer and activist Angélique Kidjo received the President's Medal, presented by WP President Kathleen Waldron on behalf of the University and the Board of Trustees, in recognition of her artistry and activism that has reached international audiences. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. Kidjo is a strong advocate for education as the key to economic empowerment. Through her Foundation, Kidjo provides secondary education to girls across Africa and empowers the female leaders of tomorrow. As a three-time Grammy winner in the category of World Music, her powerful speech on education was punctuated with the strength of her singing voice and her intense stage presence. Photo, left to right: Dean of the College of the Arts and Communication Daryl Moore; President Kathleen Waldron; Angélique Kidjo; and Provost Warren Sandman Best-selling author, sports reporter, and philanthropist Mitch Albom spoke in March 2015 about the unexpected success of his book Tuesdays with Morrie, as well as his 35-year-career in sports reporting. Using sports as a metaphor for life, Albom offered his commentary on why the public will never outgrow its obsession for sports. Photo: Mitch Albom In May 2014, Tony Award-winning Broadway director Harold Prince gave a standing ovation to WP music students, who performed selections of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's music from West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures (all first-run Broadway productions, directed by Harold Prince), in an arrangement by WP music professor Warren Helms entitled "Pretty Medley." Prince, who has garnered more Tony Awards than any other individual and has directed and produced more than 50 plays, musical and operas, discussed his illustrious career. Photo, left to right: Sarah Ciccarelli, Alexander Ryan, Tyler Herrick, Michael Kern, Harold Prince, and moderator Alfred Doblin, editorial page editor, The Record In February 2013, master chef Jacques Pépin, of Bravo TV's Top Chef and Julia and Jacques fame, led a cooking demonstration with his daughter Claudine in front of a sold-out audience. Along with the demonstration, the author, television personality, and seminal dignitary of the culinary arts discussed his amazing career. His show with Julia Child marked the advent of the culinary-based television programs that have become a staple in today's pop culture. Photo: Claudine and Jacques Pépin
Past Lecturers Past Lecturers by Year Steve Adubato James G. Affleck Mitch Albom Madeleine K. Albright America’s Health Care CrisisEric Anderson Hanan Ashrawi Isaac Asimov Lee Babiss Howard Baker Russell Baker Dave Barry Harry Belafonte Carl Bernstein Wolf Blitzer Peter Bogdanovich Robert Bork Ed Bradley Willy Brandt William J. BrattonFran Brill Art BuchwaldChristopher Buckley William BuckleyThe Capitol Steps Brendan Byrne James CarvilleRosanne CashBrian CashmanBenjamin F. Chavis, Jr. Lynne V. Cheney Richard CheneyChris Christie Henry CisnerosKevin Clash Harlan Coben William S. CohenJon Corzine Christos M. Cotsakos Catherine Crier Chris DaggettMichael DavisFrank Deford Alan Dershowitz David N. Dinkins Lou Dobbs Elizabeth Dole Abba Eban M. Joycelyn EldersTheo Epstein Jaime Escalante Geraldine Ferraro Marlin Fitzwater Malcolm “Steve” Forbes, Jr. Gerald Ford Harold Ford, Jr. Al Franken Louis Freeh Frank Gaffney, JrHenry Louis Gates, Jr.Tony GeissRichard Gephardt David Gergen Penn Gillette Raymond Gilmartin Newt Gingrich Rudy Giuliani Doris Kearns Goodwin William H. Gray III Philip Habib Alexander Haig Alex Haley Edward Heath Nat Hentoff Anita HillGregory Hines Richard Holbrooke Benjamin Hooks Charlayne Hunter-Gault Molly Ivins Jesse Jackson Spenser Johnson Thomas Kean Jack Kemp Alan Keyes Angélique KidjoPeter King Jeanne J. Kirkpatrick Henry Kissinger Edward Koch C. Everett Koop Robert KrulwichCharles Kuralt Richard Leakey Spike LeeCarol LeiferDaniel LevitinMaya LinMike Lupica Catharine A. MacKinnon Norman Mailer Sonia Manzano Wynton Marsalis Mary Matalin Bob McGrath James McGreevey The McLaughlin Group Jon MeachamBrad Meltzer George Mitchell Susan Molinari Dee Dee Myers Ralph Nader John Naisbitt Peggy Noonan Joyce Carol Oates P.J. O’RourkeFrank OzAl PacinoAlan C. Page Douglas H. Palmer Leon PanettaSara ParetskyPenn & TellerJacques Pépin Boone Pickens Deborah T. Poritz Colin Powell Jody Powell Harold PrinceWilliam Proxmire Jane Bryant QuinnAnthony Rapp Dan RatherDiane Ravitch Janet Reno Sally RideSelena Roberts Steve RobertsMarty Robinson Charlie Rose Dennis Ross Warren B. Rudman Mark Russell Murray Sabrin Murray Sabrin Jehan SadatPeter Sagal William Safire Patricia Schroeder Arkady Shevchenko Beverly Sills Phil Simms Anna Deveare Smith Stephen Sondheim Susan SontagCaroll SpinneyLesley StahlGloria Steinem George Stephanopoulos Oliver Stone Peter Tarassoff Norman Thagard Margaret Thatcher Fred Thompson Alvin TofflerJosé "Joey" Torres John Tower Calvin Trillin Paul E. Tsongas Stansfield Turner Neil deGrasse Tyson John Updike Steven Van Zandt Alice Walker Alice Waters Christine Todd WhitmanBernie Williams Walter Williams Pete Wilson Adrien Wing Tom WolfeJudy WoodruffAndrew Young 1980Ralph Nader 1981Andrew YoungJody Powell 1982 Alvin Toffler 1983 William BuckleyAlex HaleyNorman MailerEdithe Fulton and Saul Cooperman 1984Spencer JohnsonHenry KissingerRussell Baker 1985 Beverly SillsAlexander HaigJohn NaisbittBenjamin HooksJeane KirkpatrickGeraldine FerraroArkady Shevchenko 1986 Jesse JacksonArt BuchwaldJeane KirkpatrickPhilip HabibHenry Cisneros 1987 Gerald FordRichard LeakeyAbba EbanWilliam Safire 1988 Ed BradleyPatricia SchroederWilly BrandtSally RideJohn Tower 1989Howard BakerJames G. AffleckWilliam ProxmireHoward BakerMark RussellAlice WalkerWilliam H. Gray IIIC. Everett Koop 1990Tom WolfeJane Bryant QuinnIsaac AsimovEdward KochCharles Kuralt and Mark Russell 1991Jaime Escalante and Joyce Carol OatesRobert BorkEdward HeathElizabeth Dole 1992Charlayne Hunter-GaultPeggy NoonanBoone PickensThe Capitol StepsJohn McLaughlin1993 Pamela G. Bailey and Uwe G. ReinhardtSpike LeeRichard CheneyJack KempJohn Updike 1994 Calvin TrillinJeanne J. KirkpatrickBenjamin F. Chavis, Jr.Warren B. Rudman and Paul E. TsongasSusan Sontag1995David N. DinkinsCarol Bernstein and Nat HentoffMary Matalin and James CarvilleOliver StoneHenry Louis Gates, Jr. and Walter Williams1996David GergenM. Joycelyn EldersThe Capitol StepsLynne V. Cheney and Catharine A. MacKinnonDee Dee Myers and Marlin Fitzwater1997Harry BelafonteWilliam J. BrattonMalcolm “Steve” ForbesGeorge Stephanopoulos1997 NJ Gubernatorial Debate: James McGreevey, Murray Sabrin and Christine Todd Whitman 1998Dave BarryColin PowellLeon PanettaAlan Keyes1999Hanan Ashrawl and Adrien WingNewt GingrichWolf BlitzerMargaret Thatcher 2000Alan DershowitzGregory HinesThe Capitol StepsCharlie RoseSteve Roberts and Cokie Roberts2001Lou DobbsNeil Degrasse TysonAl FrankenWilliam S. CohenMadeleine K. Albright2002Alan C. PageLee Babiss, Raymond Gilmartin and Peter TarassoffP.J. O’RourkeAnna Deveare SmithLouis Freeh and Stansfield Turner2003Fred ThompsonChristos M. CotsakosDennis RossGeorge Mitchell2004Rudy GiulianiMolly IvinsRichard Holbrooke and Pete WilsonFrank Gaffney, Jr., Diane Ravitch and Janet Reno 2005Harlan Coben, Brad Meltzer and Sara ParetskyBrendan Byrne and Thomas KeanDan RatherGregory Olsen, Eric Anderson, and Kathryn C. Thornton2006Wynton MarsalisRichard GephardtSteven Van Zandt interviewed by Peter BogdanovichDoris Kearns Goodwin2007Phil Simms interviewed by Peter KingDeborah T. Poritz interviewed by Steve AdubatoSusan Molinari and Harold Ford, Jr. with Alfred Doblin 2008Brian Cashman, Theo Epstein with Kevin Burkhart Sondheim – In words and music: Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Rapp Douglas H. Palmer, Jose “Joey” Torres and Jeremiah Healy interviewed by Steve AdubatoChristopher Buckley, Carol Leifer and Peter SagalFrank Deford, Mike Lupica and Selena Roberts 2009Sesame Street at 40; A night of celebration and Discovery with the Legendary cast: Fran Brill, Kevin Clash, Sonia Manzano, Frank Oz, David Rudman and Caroll Spinney interviewed by Michael Davis2009 NJ Gubernatorial Debate: Chris Christie, Jon Corzine and Chris Daggett2010Penn & TellerAl Pacino interviewed by Richard BrownBernie Williams in Words and Music performs with WP Jazz Orchestra and interviewed by Phil Pepe2011Diane Ravitch2012Gloria Steinem2013Jacques Pepin and Claudia PepinRoseanne Cash and Daniel Levitin 2014Harold Prince interviewed by Alfred DoblinRobert Krulwich2015Mitch AlbomLeslie Stahl2016Angélique KidjoJon Meacham2017Anita Hill Maya Lin2018Alice WatersJudy Woodruff
