Featured Speakers Series

For 30+ years, the popular Kent State University at Stark Featured Speakers Series attracted thousands of campus and community members who took advantage of a rare opportunity to be introduced to national and international experts on a wide range of topics and issues that shaped our society. 

In March 2024, Kent State Stark partnered with Stark Library to host Michelle Williams, Destiny's Child singer, songwriter and author, at the Canton Palace Theatre. During the 2022-2023 season, Kent State Stark welcomed to campus environmental activist Erin Brockovich and Hollywood actor and author, Danny Trejo, in partnership with Stark Library, at the Canton Palace Theatre.

Past notable figures have included Golden Globe-winning actor Henry Winkler, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, national political broadcaster George Stephanopoulos, journalist and National Geographic Explorer host Lisa Ling, tennis star Billie Jean King, rags-to-riches prodigy Chris Gardner, legendary drummer Max Weinberg, ice cream entrepreneur Jerry Greenfield, cinematographer Spike Lee, CNN's broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, distinguished astronaut and Arizona State Senator Mark Kelly, best-selling authors Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult, and acclaimed journalists Soledad O'Brien and John Quinones - to name a few!

View our Former Featured Speakers at Kent State Stark