Stephen Kotkin

Masterful storyteller and internationally acclaimed literary powerhouse with two dozen books and 79 million copies in print.

Beloved author, journalist, and Pulitzer-Prize-winning humor columnist Dave Barry is a household name across America, having written dozens of bestselling books. His latest, Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass, is garnering enthusiastic praise for its humor and heart.

Author and Antarctic historian, Boothe has chronicled the history of exploration in Antarctica, offering vivid accounts of the courage and tenacity of early explorers. Her work preserves the legacy of one of Earth’s most remote and challenging environments.

PBS NewsHour senior correspondent Jeffrey Brown will return to the SVAF stage in 2026 as a lead moderator. During his long and illustrious career, Brown has reported on a wide range of national and international issues. His book of prose and poetry, The News, explores the intersections between politics and poetry.

Frank Brown is the CEO of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, focused on breaking non-academic barriers to student success. Under his leadership, CIS has grown through innovative programs and partnerships. A JD graduate from USC, Brown is recognized as one of Atlanta’s top education leaders.

David Eagleman is an American neuroscientist, author, and science communicator. He teaches neuroscience at Stanford University and is CEO and co-founder of Neosensory, a company that develops devices for sensory substitution. He is the writer and presenter of The Brain, an Emmy-nominated television series on PBS and BBC.

Director of Photography for Lighting at Pixar Animation Studios, recognized for her work on films like Finding Nemo and WALL-E, blending art and technology.

Filippenko is an Astrophysicist on a Nobel Prize winning team, as well as the 2007 Gruber Cosmology Prize, 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics to all team members. He was voted the “best professor at UC Berkeley 9 years!”.

Author of the bestselling novel Lessons in Chemistry, which blends wit and social commentary in a story about a female scientist who breaks barriers in the 1960s.

Co-founder of Lookout, a cybersecurity company, and a leading voice in mobile security and data protection. Hering’s expertise has shaped the dialogue on securing mobile platforms and protecting digital privacy globally.

Chief Curator of Harvard Art Museums for the past four and a half years, Soyoung Lee was brought on board at an exciting time for Harvard, as the Museums were expanding their dual role as a premier teaching institution and one of the major public art museums in the dynamic Boston cultural landscape. She oversees three curatorial divisions: Asian and Mediterranean Art, European and American Art, and Modern and Contemporary Art. Lee drives the intellectual vision for the Museums’ exhibitions program and world-class collections. She also directs the Art Museums’ training program of curatorial, conservation, and education fellows.

Founder of The Mansion on O Street and an advocate for creativity and philanthropy. Leonards has created a unique space for artists, authors, and musicians to connect, and her work centers on the transformative power of creativity and giving back.

Author and creative force behind This or Something Better, Levine shares her personal journey of resilience and renewal, weaving in themes of self-discovery, nature, and healing through her evocative and deeply personal storytelling.

U.S. Poet Laureate, National Book Critics Circle Award winner, MacArthur Fellowship recipient, and a 2024 TIME magazine woman of the year.

Technology correspondent for The New York Times and author of Genius Makers, Metz is known for his insightful reporting on artificial intelligence, Silicon Valley, and the innovators shaping the future of technology.

Bill Milliken, Founder and Vice Chairman of Communities In Schools, Inc., is one of the nation’s foremost pioneers in the movement to give young people the help they need to graduate from high school and go on to rewarding lives.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, recognized for his expertise in arms control, nuclear security, and U.S.-Russia relations. He is a noted author on geopolitical strategy and international diplomacy.

Stacy Schiff is an American essayist and Pulitzer Prize winning author, known for her fast paced, enthralling and insightful biographies.

Erich Schwartzel is an American journalist covering the film industry in the Wall Street Journal’s Los Angeles bureau. He has written dozens of front-page stories on life and business in Hollywood, specializing in features where commerce meets culture.

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times known for his thought-provoking commentary on international affairs, politics, and culture.

Philip Taubman is an American journalist, author, and lecturer at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation.

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a humanitarian, mountaineer, explorer, social entrepreneur, and technologist living in San Francisco.

Abraham Verghese is an American physician, author, Professor at Stanford University’s Medical School, and Senior Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine where he is renowned for his focus on healing and empathetic care. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the author of four books including two memoirs and two novels.

Hugo Vickers is recognized as an expert on the British Royal Family with the Financial Times calling him “the most knowledgeable royal biographer on the planet”.

James Woods is the author of The Niantic Caper, a California-based thriller. A UC Berkeley and UC Davis Law graduate, Woods’ work is inspired by his diverse experiences in law and global initiatives.

Renowned chemist and professor, Yaghi is celebrated for his pioneering work in the field of reticular chemistry, particularly in the development of metal-organic frameworks. His research has transformative potential for clean energy and environmental sustainability.