Guest Speakers
Now Stepping Up to the Podium
Each week, Heinz College welcomes to Hamburg Hall and the greater CMU campus internationally renowned leaders in fields ranging from policy and cybersecurity to information technology and arts management. Our guest speakers, many of whom are Heinz College alumni who have walked a similar path to our current students, will give you the unique opportunity to learn from and network with leading professionals in the very classrooms in which you study, and provide you with tips to help you forge your own desired career path after graduation.
President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama hosted the White House Frontiers Conference at Carnegie Mellon University.
Senator Bernie Sanders
Senator Bernie Sanders addressed a packed crowd at Carnegie Mellon University’s Skibo Gymnasium.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton toured the CMU Robotics Institute and spoke at Carnegie Mellon University during National Robotics Week.
Carmen Yulín Cruz
Alumna Carmen Yulín Cruz (MSPPM ’86), Mayor of San Juan, returned to Heinz College to talk about climate change, disaster relief, and the need for resilient infrastructure.
Dr. Naudia Jonassaint
Dr. Naudia Jonassaint, Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion and Medical Director of Hepatology at UPMC, visited Hamburg Hall to give a leader's perspective on equity and inclusion.
Senator Bob Casey
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) had a candid conversation with Heinz College policy students on adversity, getting things done in a time of division, and leading with conscience.
Ijeoma Oluo
Ijeoma Oluo, New York Times best-selling author of “So You Want to Talk About Race," spoke to Heinz College students about the complex reality of today’s racial landscape in America.
Mitch Glazier
Mitch Glazier, Charirman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, visited Heinz College to talk about his work ensuring that the U.S. Music Modernization Act was signed into law.
Yolanda Martínez Mancilla
Alumna Yolanda Martínez Mancilla (MSPPM '06), National Digital Coordinator for the Office of the President, Mexico, spoke to students about Mexico’s implementation of AI technologies.
Joseph Hezir
CMU Alumnus Joseph Hezir (MSPPM ’74), former Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy, answered Heinz College student questions about the future of energy efficiency.
Martin O’Malley
Martin O’Malley, former Governor of Maryland and Senior Fellow of the MetroLab Network, visited Hamburg Hall to discuss cutting-edge Smart City research.
Glenn Lowry
Glenn Lowry, Director of The Museum of Modern Art, spoke to Heinz College students about the leadership challenges involved in managing one of the world’s most recognized names in art.
Trudi Biggs McCanna
Heinz College alumna Trudi Biggs McCanna (MAM ’95), former Director of Strategic Initiatives at Google, shared strategies for developing strong and effective leadership skills.
Dr. Gary J. Gates
Heinz College alumnus Dr. Gary J. Gates (Ph.D. ‘00) visited campus to talk about his groundbreaking demographic, geographic, and economic research on LGBTQ individuals and families.
Chiho Fendler
Chiho Fendler, Senior Director of Programs and Policy for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, visited Heinz College to speak to students about policy-driven music education leadership and initiatives.
Kimberly Ellison-Taylor
Alumna Kimberly Ellison-Taylor (MSIT ’06), former Executive Director of Finance Thought Leadership at Oracle, talked to Heinz students about technical skills for the financial strategist
Governor Tom Wolf
Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania visited Heinz College to discuss the innovative research our faculty members are conducting and implementing in the smart mobility sector.
Aubrey Bergauer
Aubrey Bergauer, Chief Executive Officer of Changing the Narrative, spoke to Heinz College arts management students about what characteristics make an orchestra relevant in the 21st century.
Afua Bruce
Afua Bruce, Chief Program Officer at DataKind, shared her journey as a public interest technologist with Heinz College students.
Senator Pat Toomey
Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) visited Heinz College to share with students his ideas on the importance of leadership and how to achieve goals in the face of adversity.
Dr. Alondra Nelson
Dr. Alondra Nelson, Deputy Director of Science and Society for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, discussed her most recent book, “The Social Life of DNA.”
Ambassador William Taylor
William Taylor talked about his experiences as the former chargé in the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and his 2019 testimony before the U.S. House Intelligence Committee.
Toya Lillard
Toya Lillard, Executive Director of viBe Theater Experience, visited Heinz College to discuss anti-racism as an organizational praxis.
Michael Fortner
Professor Michael Fortner of the Political Science Program at The Graduate Center, CUNY traced the evolution of African American crime politics from the 1970s until today.
Anthony F. Pipa
Anthony F. Pipa of The Brookings Institution shared his crisis response experiences on the ground in the early days after Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans.
Simon Balto
Professor Simon Balto of the University of Iowa Department of History explored the history of discriminatory policing in the United States.
Wade Warren
Wade Warren shared leadership strategies through the lens of his work leading the U.S. and international responses to the 2014 Ebola outbreak during his time at USAID.
Susan Reichle
Susan Reichle of the International Youth Foundation recounted her experiences leading the U.S. response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
