Distinguished Speakers Series
Since 1993, more than 65 distinguished guests—including U.S. presidents, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and global leaders—have spoken at UofL through our Distinguished Speakers Series.
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1993-Present
US Senator Katie Britt (R-AL)
US Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY, 3rd)
- Date: March 25, 2024
- View the Morgan McGarvey photos
Ambassador of Ukraine to the US Oksana Markarova
- Date: Oct. 30, 2023
- Read the Oksana Markarovastory
- View the Oksana Markarova photos
- Watch the Oksana Markarova video
Ambassador of Australia to the US Kevin Rudd
- Date: Sept. 15, 2023
- View the Kevin Rudd photos
- Watch the Kevin Rudd video
US Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
- Date: Sept. 26, 2022
- View the Kyrsten Sinema photos
- Watch the Kyrsten Sinema video
US Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
- Date: April 11, 2022
- View the Amy Klobuchar photos
- Watch the Amy Klobuchar video
US Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett
- Date: Sept. 12, 2021
- View the Amy Coney Barrett photos
US Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY, 3rd)
- Date: Jan. 27, 2021
- Watch the John Yarmuth video
US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo
- Date: Dec. 2, 2019
- Read the Michael R. Pompeo story
- View the Michael R. Pompeo photos
- Watch the Michael R. Pompeo video
Australian Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey
- Date: Oct. 22, 2019
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper
US Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)
- Date: April 1, 2019
- Read the Tim Kaine story
- View the Tim Kaine photos
- Watch the Tim Kaine video
Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer
- Date: Nov. 16, 2018
- Read the Ron Dermer story
- Watch the Ron Dermer video
CIA Director Gina Haspel
- Date: Sept. 24, 2018
- Read the Gina Haspel story
- View the Gina Haspel photos
- Watch the Gina Haspel video
US Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
- Date: Feb. 12, 2018
- Read the Chuck Schumer story
- View the Chuck Schumer photos
- Watch the Chuck Schumer video
US Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch
- Date: Sept. 21, 2017
US Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
US Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)
- Date: Nov. 16, 2015
- Read the Tim Scott story
- View the Tim Scott photos
- Watch the Tim Scott video
US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power
- Date: Jan. 12, 2015
- Read the Samantha Power story
- View the Samantha Power photos
- Watch the Samantha Power video
US Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
- Date: March 17, 2014
- Read the Kelly Ayotte story
- View the Kelly Ayotte photos
- Watch the Kelly Ayotte video
US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
- Date: March 25, 2013
- Read the Marco Rubio story
- Watch the Marco Rubio video
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
- Date: Sept. 24, 2012
- Read the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi story
- View the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi photos
- Watch the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi video
CIA Director David H. Petraeus
- Date: Sept. 10, 2012
- Read the David H. Petraeus story
- View the David H. Petraeus photos
- Watch the David H. Petraeus video
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
- Date: March 1, 2012
- Read the Leon Panetta story
- View the Leon Panetta photos
- Watch the Leon Panetta video
US Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH)
- Date: Oct. 31, 2011
- Read the John Boehner story
- View the John Boehner photos
- Watch the John Boehner video
US Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE)
- Date: Feb. 11, 2011
- Read the Joe Biden story
- View the Joe Biden photos
- Watch the Joe Biden video
US Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)
former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam
- Date: April 12, 2010
- Read the APJ Abdul Kalam story
- View the APJ Abdul Kalam photos
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
- Date: April 9, 2010
- Read the Hillary Rodham Clinton story
- View the Hillary Rodham Clinton photos
- Watch the Hillary Rodham Clinton video
US Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
US Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
- Date: Nov. 11, 2009
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts
- Date: April 18, 2009
- View the John Roberts photos
- Watch the John Roberts video
US Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Date: Jan. 10, 2009
Pulitzer Prize Winner for History Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Date: Feb. 11, 2008
US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
- Date: Oct. 15, 2007
- View the Harry Reid photos
US President George W. Bush (R-TX)
- Date: March 2, 2007
- View the George W. Bush photos
Second Lady of the US Lynne Cheney
- Date: Sept. 18, 2006
- Watch the Lynne Cheney video
US Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
- Date: April 3, 2006
- View the Edward M. Kennedy photos
- Watch the Edward M. Kennedy video
US Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
- Date: Sept. 19, 2005
- View the Richard Lugar photos
- Watch the Richard Lugar video
US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
- Date: Feb. 28, 2005
- View the Kay Bailey Hutchison photos
US Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
- Date: Nov. 8, 2004
- View the Joe Lieberman photos
- Watch the Joe Lieberman video
US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice
- Date: March 8, 2004
- View the Condoleeza Rice photos
former US Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen
- Date: Oct. 17, 2003
- View the William S. Cohen photos
US Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
- Date: Sept. 22, 2003
- View the Elizabeth Dole photos
US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
- Date: March 3, 2003
- View the Patrick Leahy photos
US Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
- Date: Sept. 9, 2002
- View the Phil Gramm photos
US Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
- Date: Jan. 28, 2002
US Secretary of State Colin Powell
- Date: Nov. 19, 2001
- Watch the Colin Powell video
- View the Colin Powell photos
- Read the Colin Powell story
Pulitzer Prize Winner for Commentary George F. Will
- Date: April 9, 2001
- Watch the George F. Will video
Prime Minister of Belize Said W. Musa
- Date: Feb. 12, 2001
US Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
- Date: Nov. 13, 2000
British Ambassador to the US Christopher Meyer, KCMG
- Date: Oct. 30, 2000
US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
- Date: Sept. 11, 2000
US Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
- Date: April 17, 2000
- Watch the Robert C. Byrd video
former US Secretary of Defense William J. Perry
- Date: Jan. 31, 2000
People's Republic of China Ambassador to the US Li Zhaoxing
- Date: Nov. 22, 1999
US Representative Anne Northup (R-KY, 3rd)
- Date: Sept. 13, 1999
former US Secretary of State James Baker
- Date: Oct. 26, 1998
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
- Date: Oct. 27, 1997
Baron of Edmonton Thomas Edward Graham, Opposition Chief Whip of the House of Lords (Parliament of the United Kingdom)
- Date: Sept. 19, 1996
US Senator William Bradley (D-NJ)
- Date: Feb. 12, 1996
Arab Republic of Egypt Ambassador to the US Ahmed Maher El Sayed
- Date: Nov. 13, 1995
US Deputy Secretary of State Nelson Strobridge Talbott
- Date: March 20, 1995
Israeli Ambassador to the US Itamar Rabinovich
- Date: April 25, 1994
former US Ambassador to Paraguay and El Salvador Robert White
- Date: March 24, 1994
former US Secretary of State George Shultz
- Date: Oct. 5, 1993
- Watch the George Shultz video