Rising Talent

Rising Higher Education Speakers

24 credible, up-and-coming voices in higher education — active on the circuit, beyond the household names.

Todd Boyd

Todd Boyd

Race & Pop Culture Expert | USC Professor & Media Commentator

2 recent talks · through 2025
Daryl Davis

Daryl Davis

Musician & Author | Conflict Navigator and Unifier

1 recent talk · through 2024
Eugene Robinson

Eugene Robinson

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Columnist | African-American Perspectives

1 recent talk · through 2025
Alberto M. Carvalho

Alberto M. Carvalho

Education Innovator | Transforming Urban School Districts Nationwide

1 recent talk · through 2024
Lord David Blunkett

Lord David Blunkett

Former Home Secretary | Blind from Birth | MP for Sheffield for 23 Years

1 recent talk · through 2026
Erin Gruwell

Erin Gruwell

Inspiring Educator | 'The Freedom Writers Diary' Author

1 recent talk · through 2024
Bill Nye

Bill Nye

Science Educator | Design Innovator and Media Personality

1 recent talk · through 2025
Aba Blankson

Aba Blankson

Chief Marketing Officer, NAACP | Empowering Diverse Brands and Audiences

1 recent talk · through 2025
Sonita Alizadeh

Sonita Alizadeh

Human Rights Activist | Music and Advocacy

1 recent talk · through 2025
Charlotte Marian Pearson

Charlotte Marian Pearson

Inclusive Brand Strategist | Driving Social Impact Through Entrepreneurship

1 recent talk · through 2025
Michael Barbaro

Michael Barbaro

Host of The Daily | Leading New York Times News Podcast

1 recent talk · through 2025
Gurinder Chadha OBE

Gurinder Chadha OBE

Award-Winning Film Director | Pioneering Global Storytelling

1 recent talk · through 2025
Kenji Yoshino

Kenji Yoshino

NYU Constitutional Law Professor | Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

1 recent talk · through 2025
Satoru Kobayashi

Satoru Kobayashi

Museum Artist | Innovative Cultural Design and Exhibition Curator

1 recent talk · through 2025
Sara Khan

Sara Khan

Counter-Extremism Activist | Former Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism

1 recent talk · through 2025
Elif Shafak

Elif Shafak

Award-winning novelist | Author of "The Island of Missing Trees"

3 talks · through 2020
Brian Cox

Brian Cox

Professor of Particle Physics | BBC Science Presenter

3 talks · through 2010
Arthur Benjamin

Arthur Benjamin

Distinguished Mathematician & Mental Calculation Wizard | TED Speaker

3 talks · through 2013
Andrew Solomon

Andrew Solomon

Author & Psychologist | Mental Health and Cultural Identity

3 talks · through 2014
Shereen El Feki

Shereen El Feki

Author & Social Scientist | Sexuality & Social Change in the Arab World

3 talks · through 2013
Steven Olikara

Steven Olikara

Founder and Former CEO | Millennial Action and Civic Leadership

2 talks · through 2020
Garrett Reisman

Garrett Reisman

NASA Astronaut | The Future of Human Spaceflight

2 talks · through 2023
Nalini Nadkarni

Nalini Nadkarni

Canopy Explorer | Pioneering Forest Conservation & Emerging Tech

2 talks · through 2010
Joe Sohm

Joe Sohm

Acclaimed Americana Photographer | Inspiring Patriotic Keynotes

2 talks · through 2012
Free to get started

Book a rising higher education speaker

Fresh voices — often more available and better value. Save them to a shortlist and request quotes. Free to start.

No credit card required. Start browsing in seconds.