The Bryan Series: Guilford College's Gem

Guilford College recently announced their 2014-15 list of speakers for their Bryan Series. This is a gem and privilege that the college has given to the students of Guilford and the surrounding community since 1996.
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Guilford College recently announced their 2014-15 list of speakers for their Bryan Series. This is a gem and privilege that the college, along side of ticket holders and a generous subsidy from the Bryan Foundation has given to the students of Guilford and the surrounding community since 1996.

Besides giving a presentation at Greensboro's War Memorial Auditorium, the speakers visit Guilford's campus and meet with students in small, intimate sessions.

During my time at the college, I have been able to ask some of history's greatest media icons questions about their profession and how to make decisions as a budding journalist.

Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes recently told me about his struggle to become a great writer and succeed in journalism. Lesley Stahl, also of 60 Minutes, talked to me about the amount of work it takes to get a story on the air. David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times, spoke about meeting with President Obama after writing a critique of his policies.

"How does one have lunch with the president after lambasting him in a national publication," I asked.

Brooks replied, "You don't get to the point of being the President of the United States, without having thick skin."

David Gregory, while his ratings were still very high, sat with student journalists and talked about following Bush, Jr. in his press corps.

Not all of the lecturers are journalists. Past speakers have included President Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Mikhail Gorbachev, Madeleine Albright, Desmond Tutu, Sidney Poitier, Tom Brokaw, Fareed Zakaria, Bill Bradley, Bill Moyers and Toni Morrison. Six heads of state, five Nobel Prize laureates, two former U.S. Secretaries of State and winners of MacArthur Fellowships and Academy, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Awards have been speakers in the series.

The Bryan Series is an intellectual treat for the greater community and a learning tool for the students who attend the smaller campus sessions.

Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing, Ty Buckner, says that "the two goals of the Series are to educate the college community and greater Greensboro community and bring recognition to the college for purposes of recruitment and fundraising. So, the Series does not just exist to present speakers but to make an impact for Guilford."

I could not agree more. Buckner says he looks forward to the speakers who are coming in the future continuing the connection between students and learning.

There is an exciting line-up coming next year. See the video below for a history on the series, and for more information, visit The Bryan Series website, to learn how you too can attend these beneficial programs.

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