Mike Duncan
American political history podcaster and author. His award winning series, “The History of Rome,” remains a legendary landmark in the history of podcasting.
Award-Winning Authors
Authors whose books are popular with 1st year reads, community reads, visiting writers programs!
Betsy Gaines Quammen
Author of American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God, and Public Lands in the West. Environmental historian and writer with a background in international conservation work, land issues, science denialism, and anti-government agitation in the American West.
Charles Johnson
National Book Award winner for Middle Passage, Dr. Charles Johnson writes captivating novels that address issues of being African-American in today’s U.S. society.
Angela Shelton
Be Your Own Hero! Angela Shelton shares heartwarming and hilarious real-life stories about moving from a life of abuse and hardships to activist, artist, performer, writer, and award-winning filmmaker.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Your personal astrophysicist and host of the Emmy Award winning, COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey and StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson. Dr. Tyson’s passion for science communication changes the way we think about the universe.
David Quammen
Internationally acclaimed science writer and National Book Award Finalist. Author of Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus. Three-time winner of the National Magazine Award (the Ellie) and author of more than 15 books.
Charles C. Mann
Offering valuable insights into the most significant events, from the European discovery of the Americas to the rise of the digital age, Charles Mann transforms our views of history. His book, The Wizard And The Prophet, asks the question “Can Earth support 10 billion people?”
Sandra Steingraber
An international anti-fracking fearless activist & biologist who fights for environmental rights as a basic human right. Her expertise in environmental health and science sparks crucial conversation and drives meaningful change.
Robert Bullard
“Father of Environmental Justice,” & “One of 13 Environmental Leaders of the Century”. Dr. Robert Bullard is a leading voice on environmental racism, sustainable housing & human rights reshaping our perception of environmental concerns and building resilience for a more equitable future.
Daniel H. Wilson
Award-winning SciFi author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising, and AI & Robotics Expert, Wilson was selected to write, “The Andromeda Evolution” with the Michael Crichton estate, which marked the 50th anniversary of “The Andromeda Strain”.
Daisy Hernández
Daisy’s work is at the intersection of culture, identity, social justice and media representation. Winner of the Pen Book Award for The Kissing Bug which turns a critical eye to a devastating infection, Chagas disease, affecting predominantly impoverished and marginalized communities.
Richard Rodriguez
An award–winning, thought provoking writer, hailed by The Washington Post as “one of the most eloquent and probing public intellectuals in America”.
Rinku Sen
Rinku brings an innovative approach to complex social and racial justice issues. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, known for her transformative work promoting equity across marginalized groups.
Jeffery Renard Allen
Award winning American poet, essayist, short story writer, and novelist. Winner of the P.E.N. Discovery Prize and a Whiting Writer’s Award.
Spencer Overton
Author of Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression, President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and former Justice Department official.
Arn Chorn-Pond
Renowned human rights activist, musician and Cambodian genocide survivor. Inspiring change with incredible stories of hope, endurance, and survival through the power of music.
Lorene Cary
Powerful storyteller, educator, and social activist delivering autobiographical, historical, and fictional stories about issues surrounding race and class.
Ted Conover
Pulitzer Prize finalist, National Book Award winning author, narrative nonfiction journalist who explores off-beat social worlds and creates conversational dialogues that are engaging and relevant.