Previous Speakers

Dr. Cynthia Alby

2023 “ALEXA: Can A.I. Serve the Common Good?” Speaker

Previous Event Years

Common Dialogue Day has been a Siena Heights University tradition since 2000. Below are a list of some of the hosts and the years they hosted!

Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes

2022 “Brave the Silence”

Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes – Athletic Director, Entrepreneur, and NAIA Commissioner

Rudy Valdez

2021 “Spirit of Change”

Rudy Valdez – Emmy award winning filmmaker

Sr. Helen Prejean

2020 “Seek Truth”

Sr. Helen Prejean – advocate, author River of Fire and Dead Man Walking

Ruth E. Carter

2019 “Creating Y(our) Legacy”

Ruth E. Carter – Academy Award Winner, Costume Designer

Bill Zahn
Mary Ellen Vicksta

2018 – “Creativity and Innovation”

Bill Zahn – Pixar Animation Studios

Mary Ellen Vicksta – Author of Looking Around: Improving Your Observational Skills

Amer Zahr

2017 – “The Common Good”

Amer Zahr – Comedian & Professor at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

Mary Alice Stephenson

2016 – “Authenticity”

Mary Alice Stephenson – Founder of GLAM4GOOD; Fashion & Beauty Expert

Bryan Stevenson

2015 – “It Starts with Justice”

Bryan Stevenson – Author of Just Mercy, founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative.

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2014 – “Get Some Perspective”

Justin Shubow – President of National Civic Art Society

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2012 – “The Common Good”

Mackenzie Kambizi – Author; Pastor at Seventh-day Adventist

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2011 – “Relationships”

Maggie Riggins – Host of “In God We Trust”

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2009 – “Character of Champions”

Rob Miller – Director of NAIA’s Champions of Character

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2008 – “Peacebuilding”

Jim Ziolkowski – Founder & CEO of Building With Books