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Tony La Russa In his 27 years managing, Tony has won two World Series and is one of the most successful managers in Major League Baseball history. He was the first person to win the Manager of the Year award four times and one of only three people to have accomplished this feat while managing teams in both the American and National Leagues. La Russa is second on the Cardinals all-time managerial wins list with 977 and is third on the all-time wins list with 2,297. Tony has guided the Cardinals to postseason appearances in seven of his 11 seasons with St. Louis , taking both his 2006 and 2004 teams to the World Series. He has managed the Cardinals to postseason play six times in the past seven seasons. In 2006, Tony became the first manager ever to win multiple pennants in both leagues and one of only two managers to win the World Series in both leagues. He ranks third all-time for total wins and total number of games managed. La Russa is the only active major league manager with a law degree.
Brooke LaBarbera Brooke LaBarbera, 24, was born and still resides in Nashville, Tennessee where she also completed her degree in communications from Belmont University. Brooke ventured away from Nashville to try life out in Los Angeles, California when she was recruited to be on the Real World via Myspace. She is the first Real World cast member to have been recruited on Myspace, although she is surely not to be the last. Brooke of the Real World Denver has modeled in the past as a clothing store and print model such as in Maxim magazine, even appearing in two music videos, Phil Vassar's "I Take That as a Yes" & Keith Anderson's "Pickin' Wildflowers". Brooke would be an excellent speaker on conflict resolution, communication, and growing up in Nashville.
Cathy Ladman Popular comedian and actress.
Joyce Ladner Internationally known scholar, sociologist, educator and the first woman to serve as president of Howard University, the institution preeminent among African American colleges and universities.
Emeril Lagasse Who knew that a kid working in the local Portuguese bakery would burst with a bam! into the culinary scene, opening a series of successful restaurants, hosting popular TV shows, and becoming one of the most recognizable chefs of all time? As a boy, Emeril Lagasse began bread and pastry making at a Portuguese bakery in his Fall River, MA, neighborhood. Turning down a music scholarship to follow his culinary dream, Emeril worked his way through the Johnson and Wales University culinary program to earn a doctorate. After school, Emeril turned his eye toward the classic cuisine of France. He polished his skills in Paris and Lyons before returning to the US, where he worked in several fine restaurants in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Building a reputation through his use of only the freshest products, he came to the attention of Ella Brennan, the doyenne of New Orleans' culinary community. She persuaded 26-year-old Emeril to move to the Big Easy, where for nearly eight years he presided over Ella and Dick Brennan's legendary restaurant, Commander's Palace. Emeril opened his own restaurant in 1990. From the day its doors opened, Emerils Restaurant and its owner drew ecstatic praise. Congratulations came not only from the local New Orleans gentry and the writers who prowl the region for culinary news, but also from such national magazines as Esquire, Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure, as well as from such noted food critics as John Mariani and Gene Bourg. Following the success of Emerils Restaurant, Emeril opened multiple establishments. NOLA, which opened in New Orleans French Quarter in 1992, and Emerils New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, which premiered in 1995, both draw crowds of fans and rave reviews. In 1998, Emeril also reopened the classic Emerils Delmonico in New Orleans. Two more restaurants quickly followed in 1999 - Emerils Orlando at Universal Studios and Delmonico Steakhouse in Las Vegas. In January 2002, Emerils Tchoup Chop opened its doors in Orlando. In August 2003, Emerils Atlanta opened its doors, followed by Emerils Miami Beach in November. In addition to his restaurants are a series of books; his latest are There's a Chef in My Family, and Emerils Pot Luck. Despite his success, Emeril remains devoted as ever to using fresh, top-quality ingredients and employs cottage industry ranchers, farmers and fishermen to ensure that he always gets the best. He constantly invents new cuisine, much to the delight of his regular customers and the fans of his Food Network specials and shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril. Emeril lives with his wife Alden, son Emeril, Jr. and daughter Meril.
Mona Lake Jones Poet and educator Mona Lake Jones (known to many as Grandhoney.) Jones first poem was published in Essence magazine in 1990 and that led her to write The Color of Culture, now in its seventh printing, and two sequels, The Color of Culture II and The Color of Culture III. She also authored Unleashing the Power of a Sister. Her 1992 poem, "A Roomful of Sisters" was commissioned by 100 Black Women of Boston, a national civic group, and exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The poem inspired a painting by Paul Goodnight, a number of conferences and a yearly New York meeting called ARFOS. Jones has served as a poet curator and a poet laureate for the City of Seattle and King County. She is a full-time poet and motivational speaker, spending much of her time on the road, speaking at colleges, conventions and to civic groups about issues of culture and diversity. Jones has appeared on programs with Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Susan Taylor, Maxine Waters, Shirley Chisholm, Myrlie Evers-Williams and Randall Robinson. Jones also composed the lyrics for Vanessa Williams' musical recording of "Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly." Jones has received numerous awards, including the Blackbird Literary Award and the Langston Hughes Award.
Frank LaMere Gambling, freedom of religion, health care-these are some of the contemporary issues discussed on reservations throughout the United States. While these issues are debated on the Native American reservations, they are rarely discussed in the classroom. As part of our Transcending Prejudice series, the Athenaeum welcomes Frank LaMere to Claremont to speak on the many issues facing indigenous people in the modern world. Frank LaMere has long been one of the most politically active and recognizable figures on the national Indian scene. He is a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and has been the executive director of the Nebraska Indian Intertribal Development Corporation for the past 14 years. His organization provides logistic, financial, and strategic support for economic and social service initiatives for a variety of tribes in the Midwest. LaMere served as the head of the Native American delegation to the Democratic National Convention and served on the platform committee. LaMere also serves on the reorganization committee for the Federal Indian Health Service. He is a strong community leader as well as an important national figure for indigenous people throughout North America. LaMere's speech promises to open your eyes to the many issues facing Native Americans today.
Richard Lamm Health care authority and three-term Governor of Colorado.
Dufflyn Lammers Dufflyn Lammers has published poems in Iowa Woman, The Savannah Literary Journal, Homegrown Poetry, Connect Savannah, xib, Poets, Artists and Madmen, The Savannah News-Press, The Museletter of the National Association for Poetry Therapy, and SLAM: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry, 2000, Manic D Press. Lammers worked as an Arts & Entertainment journalist for Morris News Service and The Georgia Guardian from 1995 through 2000. She published many articles, interviews, and reviews; among those are interviews with directors Robert Altman and Clint Eastwood. Lammers is a guest artist on the Rap album “ I Ain’t For Everybody” from Deezer D. She appears in the DVD release of BELLY from Artisan Films, performing spoken word. She has performed in Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on HBO. She is a principal performer in Urban Graffiti, a pilot with Boricua Brothers Films. She has been interviewed by ABC Television’s “Eye On L.A.,” by WSAV TV’s “Morning Edition,” and has appeared on “ Women On Wednesdays,” KMUD TV, Redway, CA and on Art Scene, WTOC TV, Savannah, GA. She has performed her poetry at UC Irvine, The Friar’s Club of California, University of California at Northridge, the Lee Strasberg Institute, The City of West Hollywood Book Fair, The Grove Theatre, the Poetry Society of Georgia, and the National Poetry Slam, 2003, 2002 and 1999. She is the host and SlamMaster of the Los Feliz Poetry Slam at Formosa Café in Hollywood. Lammers is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. She has taught poetry & performance workshops privately, at hospitals, women’s shelters, arts organizations, literary festivals, high schools and universities.
Lisa Lampanelli Dubbed by The New York Times as the "Lovable Queen of Mean," Lisa Lampanelli is a no-holds-barred insult comic. Her ability to make people laugh at their own stereotypes and differences helped her conquer the club scenes in both New York City and Los Angeles. Her popularity skyrocketed in 2002 when she was the only female comedian invited to skewer Chevy Chase on the NY Friar's Club Roast on Comedy Central. Since then she has become a staple of the Comedy Central Roasts for Jeff Foxworthy, Pamela Anderson, and William Shatner. In addition to her success on Comedy Central, Lisa is a regular on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Howard Stern's Radio show. She appeared on Comedy Central's "Last Laugh 2005" and her one-hour special, "Take It Like a Man." As one of the few white comedians to perform on BET's "Comic View," Lisa has cemented her huge crossover appeal. Lisa has also taped several specials for VH1, MTV and CMT, and with frequent spots on Sirius satellite radio. Lisa can be seen in "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector," in which she plays a foul-mouthed dirty broad. She also starred in "The Aristocrats," in which she played a foul-mouthed dirty comic. This fall, Lisa will tape her new stand-up special, which will air on Comedy Central in the first quarter of 2007. She will also be in the feature "Delta Farce" starring Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy and D.J. Qualls, which is also set for release early next year.
Jim Lampley Host and play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports.
Henri Landwirth Henri Landwirth as a child faced death every day as a prisoner in Auschwitz and other German concentration camps. He not only survived, but prospered, and became the personification of the American dream, dedicating his life to helping others. Landwirth was born in Belgium in 1927. His childhood was shattered by the advance of the Nazi army across the face of Europe. He saw friends and family separated and segregated living in desperate circumstances for the single reason that they were Jewish. He watched as friends and family were starved, beaten, killed, or simply disappeared. Landwirth's father, Max, was killed fairly early in the War. His mother, Fannie, and his twin sister, Margot, were all placed into the same concentration camp. Tragically, Henri's mother lived within a few months before the end of the War only to be put on board ship with a thousand others which was then blown up at sea. Landwirth was lucky. In 1945, he was brought before a firing squad, but inexplicably, the soldiers lowered their rifles and told Henri to run. He ran for days until he collapsed. He was found and nursed back to health by a Czechoslovakian couple who informed him that the War was over. Landwirth, now 18, traveled from refugee camp to refugee camp until finally he found Margot. In 1950, Landwirth emigrated to the United States, making his way across the Atlantic on a cargo ship with only $20 to his pocket. Three months after passing through Ellis Island, he was drafted by the United States Army. Landwirth took full advantage of his military service to learn everything he could learn. Thereafter, he used his rights under the G.I. Bill to take courses in hotel management and found employment in a New York City hotel. He started at the bottom, but worked his way up the ladder by doing the work of others as well as his own. For example, he bribed the night accountant with a bottle of whiskey and then did that man's work for him. In this way, he learned every job in the hotel. Married in 1954, he went with his bride to Florida and within a few months he and his wife had moved to the state. He worked in a department store and as a short-order cook until he landed a job running the 100-room Starlight Hotel in Coco Beach, Florida. Fortune smiled on Landwirth. These were the early days of America's space program and the Starlight became home to the original Mercury 7 astronauts as well as their families, the media, and other VIPs who gathered there. Landwirth impressed everyone with whom he came in contact with his honesty and integrity and because he used his success in business only as the means for what he considered a larger and more important goal--helping others. When Walt Disney moved to Florida, Landwirth sensed the opportunity and along with several partners, including Senator John Glenn, obtained a Holiday Inn franchise near the main gate of Walt Disney World. The more Landwirth prospered, the more he did for others. He worked with retarded children, giving them employment in his hotels. He helped build a clinic for children with cerebral palsy. In honor of his mother, he began the Fannie Landwirth Foundation which allowed him to do still more good works. He built a senior citizen center, gave scholarships to poor kids in Israel, and created a scholarship program to allow Israeli children to come to the United States as visiting scholars. He began transportation programs for the handicapped and disabled and provided housing and meals for families giving them food or emergency financial assistance. In 1985, Landwirth founded "Give Kids the World" as a means of helping terminally ill children and saying thanks to his adopted country for the many blessings he had received. Landwirth's Holiday Inn was part of an informal network committed to fulfilling the last wish of dying children, most of whom asked to meet Mickey Mouse. The red tape and the delay were interminable and Landwirth was outraged to learn that a child from Michigan died while waiting for paperwork to be completed. He decided that something had to be done and personally contributed a million dollars toward the creation of the village, a specially designed hotel and recreation complex for the sick kids and their families. He talked builders, suppliers, and laborers into donating their services and in short order the village was up and running. Landwirth secured free airline tickets for the children and their families, a free vehicle, free meals, as well as free tickets to Disneyland. More than 4,000 terminally ill children and their families visited the village in 1991. Asked why he does all of this, he says, "I love life. I shouldn't be here. By all rights I should have died. My whole life was a miracle. I feel it is my duty to give something back. You've got to give of yourself-- not money, but the essence of yourself. That is what makes life meaningful."
Bob Lanier An NBA basketball legend both on and off the court, Bob Lanier is a leading member of the NBA's All-Star Reading team and as the league's most active community ambassador. As part of the NBA's Read to Achieve program, Bob routinely visits with students and delivers motivational and educational messages encouraging youth literacy. Lanier also serves as Special Assistant to the Commissioner with specific responsibilities in the areas of refereeing, basketball operations and public service. An eight-time NBA All-Star and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Bob was first overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft. Lanier played nine seasons with the Detroit Pistons before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1979-80 season. Lanier's 14 years in the NBA resulted in many accomplishments including: 27th on the NBA'S all time scoring list, with more than 19,000 points: NBA All-Rookie Team member in 1971: and NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1974.
Carlotta LaNier In 1957, at age 14, Carlotta Walls LaNier and eight other students integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. This act of courage and defiance became the catalyst for change in the American educational system. The Little Rock Nine, as they would eventually be called, became foot soldiers for freedom. Concerns for family safety and continued employment persuaded the family to move to Denver in 1962. In 1968 Lanier earned a bachelors degree from the University of Northern Colorado and accepted a position at the Denver YWCA. Since then, she has married, raised two children, founded her own real estate company, and worked for 30 years as a real estate broker, currently with Cherry Creek Realtors. In 1997 the Little Rock Nine returned to Central High School for a fortieth anniversary celebration. In a symbolic and emotional gesture, the schools principal, the mayor, the governor, and the President of the United States opened the schools doors, which had been blocked by the Arkansas National Guard in 1957. In 1999 at the White House, members of Congress and the President bestowed upon Lanier and the other member of the Little Rock Nine the nations highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, for their sacrifice and contribution to the cause of equality.
Frances Moore Lappe Frances Moore Lappe is the author or coauthor of sixteen books. Her 1971 three million copy bestseller Diet for a Small Planet continues to awaken readers to the human made causes of hunger and the power of our everyday choices to create the world we want. Together, Lappe and her daughter Anna Lappe lead the Cambridge based Small Planet Institute, a collaborative network for research and popular education to bring democracy to life. With her daughter, she is also cofounder of the Small Planet Fund, channeling resources to democratic social movements worldwide. In September of 2007, the Institutes publishing arm released Lappes newest book, Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity, & Courage in a World Gone Mad. In 1975, with Joseph Collins, Lappe launched the California based Institute for Food and Development Policy (Food First). Its publications continue to shape the international debate on the root causes of hunger and poverty. The Institute was described by The New York Times as one of the nation’s most respected food think tanks. In 1990, Lappe cofounded the Center for Living Democracy, a tenyear initiative to help accelerate the spread of democratic innovations. Lappé served as founding editor of the Centers American News Service, which placed solutions-oriented news stories in almost 300 newspapers nationwide. In 2006, Lappe released Democracys Edge: Choosing to Save our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life (WileyJossey-Bass). The book, which seeks to ignite debate about the very meaning of democracy, is now being used in many college and university courses. In 2000-2001 Lappe was a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and during October, 2007 she was a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Suffolk University in Boston, MA. Lappes articles and opinion pieces have appeared in publications as diverse as the New York Times, O Magazine and Christian Century. Her television and radio appearances have included a PBS special with Bill Moyers, the Today Show, CBS Radio, and National Public Radio. Lappé is a sought after public speaker and has received seventeen honorary doctorates from distinguished institutions. In 1987 in Sweden, Lappe became the fourth American to receive the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes called the Alternative Nobel, for her vision and work healing our planet and uplifting humanity. Frances most recent honor was an award for Lifetime Service to Increase Planetary Awareness” granted to her and to biologist E.O. Wilson, at the AltWheels Alternative Transportation Festival, 2006.
Ali Larter Ali Larter played Niki Sanders/Jessica Sanders on the hit show "Heroes". Equal parts seductive, smart and headstrong, this comely blonde started out as a model before getting her big acting break in an unlikely place: Esquire. As the magazine's fake cover girl — a fictional, up-and-coming starlet named Allegra Coleman — Larter gained lots of real attention, even after she was revealed as a hoax. Soon she was booking guest spots on TV shows and in 1999 she made an auspicious film debut as an ambitious, whipped-cream-wearing cheerleader in Varsity Blues. A string of supporting roles followed — she was the brain in the Final Destination series, the ex in Drive Me Crazy and the exercise guru on trial for murder in Legally Blonde. But in 2006, the small screen afforded Larter her best part to date, as a single mother/stripper with a very dark side on the superhero drama Heroes
Tommy Lasorda Hall of fame manager and current Senior Vice President of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tommy is a very popular motivational speaker.
Queen Latifah Actress, Singer, and Author As charismatic as she is talented, Grammy Award winner Queen Latifah has achieved iconic status in the entertainment industry. The first female rap artist to produce a gold album, she is known for her positive, intelligent lyrics and strong foundation in jazz and soul traditions. After her commercial breakthrough, she began to alternate her time between recording and acting—serving up success after success as a TV talk show host, co-star in the sitcom Living Single, and actress in such popular films as Sphere, Living Out Loud, Beauty Shop, and Bringing Down the House. Her sensational performance in the acclaimed movie musical Chicago garnered her a best supporting actress nomination from the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes, and the Academy Awards. Queen Latifah recounts the ups and downs in her rise to fame in her inspirational memoir, Ladies First: Revelations Of A Strong Woman.
Matt Lauer NBC “Today” co-anchor Matt Lauer has been co-anchor of NBC News’ Today since 1997. Lauer joined Today as news anchor in 1994, providing news updates throughout the two-hour telecast each weekday morning. He also was a frequent substitute for anchor Bryant Gumbel. From 1992 to 1996, Lauer was at WNBC-TV, New York as co-anchor for the station’s early evening and early morning newscasts, News Channel 4/Live at Five and Today in New York. Before joining WNBC, Lauer hosted a daily, live three-hour interview program, 9 Broadcast Plaza, in New York. Previous experience includes hosting a number of weekly information and talk programs in Boston, Philadelphia, Providence, and Richmond. Lauer began his career in 1979 as a producer of the noon news on WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va. and then became a reporter on the station’s 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts. Lauer attended Ohio University.
Natalie Laughlin Natalie Laughlin Plus Size Model, Leading Voice on Body Image and Eating Disorder Issues Program Title - Making It Big! Being a full figured model in the fashion industry is still a new phenomenon. Even though 62 million American women are size 12 or above, the media would have you believe that every woman is a size 6, with perfect skin and a perfect body. Natalie Laughlin has dispelled and defied this myth. A woman of firsts, she is the first plus size model to have five consecutive bill boards in Times Square as Liz Claiborne’s “Elizabeth Girl.” In addition, this Willhemina model’s fashion spread and article with her personal story featured in Glamour Magazine helped send her career skyrocketing, and she has since appeared on covers of countless fashion magazines. She’s appeared on E! Entertainment, MSNBC, Extra, Lifetime Television, Fox News, and others as an outspoken voice on issues concerning body image and the media. She is a spokesperson for the website onlyreal.com, and her website, natalielaughlin.com, focuses on advancing the concept of style as sizeless community. At the podium, Natalie brings her upbeat attitude on success and happiness to the podium and discusses how she overcame a childhood of eating disorders. She is a positive role model for women of all sizes and her journey to loving her full-figure is a revelation for all.
Robert Laughlin Robert Laughlin a professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Stanford University. Along with Horst L. Stormer of Columbia University and Daniel C. Tsui of Princeton University, he was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in physics for his explanation of the fractional quantum Hall effect. Laughlin was born in Visalia, California. He earned a B.A. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley in 1972, and his Ph.D. in physics in 1979 at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. In the period of 2004-2006 he served as the president of KAIST in Daejeon, South Korea. Laughlin shares similar views to George Chapline, doubting the existence of black holes.
Pat Lavin Certified clinical hypotherapist, Pat Lavin uses hypnosis to promote health and healing. A member of the national Guild of Hypnotists and the International Association of Counselors and Therapists, Ms. Lavin has been featured in New York Newsday, the New York Daily News, National Public Radio and has appeared on such shows as the "Maury Povich Show" and "Sonia Live" regarding societal and individual health issues. She is also available to present a self-hypnosis workshop.
Carol Lawrence Popular actress, singer and dancer who is best known for her role in “West Side Story,” Ms. Lawrence has helped raise millions of dollars to eradicate world hunger.
Vicki Lawrence Actress and comedienne, Vicki Lawrence played Carol Burnett's kid sister for 11 years on The Carol Burnett Show, for which she received 5 emmy nominations and 1 Emmy. She then starred in her own series Mamma's Family and hosted a daytime talk show Vicki. Her autobigraphy Vicki! The True Life Adventures of Miss Fireball was published in 1995. Vicki Lawrence talks about her life in and out of show business and her battle to over come depression.
Robin Leach Television personality and host of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”
Kathryn Leary Noted entrepreneur and businesswoman, Kathryn Leary, was featured on the cover of the of Black Enterprise magazine as "The New Face of American Business". Kathryn is President & CEO of The Leary Group Inc., with 30 years of experience in marketing, advertising and cross-cultural communications. Ms. Leary is a consumate professional, a global visionary, and a thought leader for the new millenium.
Michael LeBoeuf Leading American expert on business practices, productivity techniques, creative problem solving and author of How To Win Customers and Keep Them For Life and Getting Results.
Richard Lederer America’s wittiest verbalist, nationally syndicated language columnist and author of such books as, Anguished English the most widely sold language/humor book in publishing history.
Spike Lee Spike Lee is one of the world's most talked-about film-makers. Inflammatory rabble-rouser or cinematic visionary? Opinions vary wildly on this film-maker who has been completely unafraid of chronicling modern-day America. Over the past fifteen years, only Oliver Stone has matched Spike Lee's politically explosive cinema, and controversy is never far away when a Lee film is released.Spike Lee made a name for himself in 1986 with the hit independent film She's Gotta Have It, a frank comedy about the many lovers of an independent Brooklyn woman. The film established Lee's as a rising young black filmmaker, a rarity at the time, and his skills and independence, along with his outspoken African-American perspective and feisty public persona, kept him in the public eye throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In later films he continued to tell stories with racial themes and New York settings, including the Brooklyn drama Do the Right Thing (1989), the jazz-tinged Mo' Better Blues (1990, with Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes), the interracial romance Jungle Fever (1993, with Snipes and Anabella Sciorra), the biopic Malcolm X (1992, starring Washington and based in part on the book by Malcolm X and Alex Haley), Summer of Sam (1999, with John Leguizamo) and controversial racial satire Bamboozled (2000). His most recent films are The 25th Hour, starring Ed Norton (2002), and She Hate Me (2004).
Ang Lee Award winning filmmaker who is best known for his films, "The Wedding Banquet"; "Eat Drink Man Woman," "Sense and Sensibility" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
John Lee Top sales, motivational and time management speaker.
Stan Lee Founder of Marvel Comics and the creator of Spider-Man, Stan Lee served as executive producer of the "Spider-Man" movie and has consulted on other upcoming films based on his characters, including "The Hulk" and "Daredevil" along with a sequel to the blockbuster, "X-Men."
Dr. Henry Lee Dr. Henry C. Lee is one of the world’s foremost forensic scientists. Dr. Lee’s work has made him a landmark in modern-day criminal investigations. He has been a prominent player in many of the most challenging cases of the last 45 years. Dr. Lee has worked with law enforcement agencies in helping to solve more than 6000 cases. In recent years, his travels have taken him to England, Bosnia, China, Brunei, Bermuda, Middle East, South America and other locations around the world. Dr. Lee’s testimony figured prominently in the O. J. Simpson trial, and in convictions of the “Woodchipper” murderer as well as hundreds of other murder cases. Dr. Lee has assisted local and state police in their investigations of other famous crimes, such as the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado, the 1993 suicide of White House Counsel Vincent Foster, the murder of Chandra Levy, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart and the reinvestigation of the Kennedy assassination. Dr. Lee is currently the Chief Emeritus for the Scientific Services and was the Commissioner of Public Safety for the State of Connecticut from 1998 to 2000 and served as Chief Criminalist for the State of Connecticut from 1979 to 2000. Dr. Lee was the driving force in establishing a modern State Police Forensic Science Laboratory in Connecticut. In 1975, Dr. Lee joined the University of New Haven, where he created the school’s Forensic Sciences program. He has also taught as a professor at more than a dozen universities, law schools, and medical schools. Though challenged with the demands on his time, Dr. Lee still lectures throughout the country and world to police, Universities and civic organizations. Dr. Lee has authored hundreds of articles in professional journals and has co-authored more than 30 books, covering the areas, such as; DNA, Fingerprints, Trace Evidence, Crime Scene Investigation and Crime scene reconstruction. His recent books; Famous Crimes Revisited, Cracking Cases and Blood Evidence have been well received by the public. Dr. Lee has been the recipient of numerous medals and awards, including the 1996 Medal of Justice from the Justice Foundation, and the 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Science and Engineer Association. He has also been the recipient of the Distinguished Criminalist Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; the J. Donero Award from the International Association of Identification, and in 1992 was elected a distinguished Fellow of the AAFS. Dr. Lee was born in China and grew up in Taiwan. Dr. Lee first worked for the Taipei Police Department, attaining the rank of Captain. With his wife, Margaret, Dr. Lee came to the United States in 1965, and he earned his B.S. in Forensic Science from John Jay College in 1972. Dr. Lee continued his studies in biochemistry at NYU where he earned his Masters Degree in 1974 and Ph.D. in 1975. He has also received special training from the FBI Academy, ATF, RCMP, and other organizations. He is a recipient of seven honorary Doctorate Degrees from Universities in recognition of his contributions to Law and Science.
Cohutta Lee Cohutta Lee of The Real World Sydney attended both Dalton State College and North Georgia Technical School. Cohutta received his name from the Cohutta Mountains in Northern Georgia as it is a Cherokee Indian word meaning "moutains that hold up the sky". He started on the Real World process under pressure from his friends as he mentioned the audition at work and so felt he might as well go to a casting call rather than face any further ribbing from his friends. Cohutta post Real World Sydney main goal is to see everything he can while he is relatively young before settling down with a family of his own. He can make a good time out of any nightclub or bar event, especially if it includes him with a guitar around a campfire, as well he can speak upon living and surviving in nature, setting up a business, and small town living at college lectures.
James Kyson Lee James Kyson Lee plays Ando Masahashi on the hit show "Heroes". Although this character actor was born in Korea, he came to prominence as a Japanese everyman with a superpowered pal on the sci-fi smash Heroes. Raised in the U.S. from age 10, Lee began studying music, dance and improvisation while attending the New England Institute of the Arts. In 2001, he reportedly sold his car and bought a one-way ticket to Hollywood, intending to pursue his showbiz dreams. Initially he performed live, appearing in West Coast productions such as Hair and playing piano and singing at local bars. But soon his easygoing attitude and average-Joe looks were tapped for a series of commercials (Red Robin, Hyundai, Butterfinger) and guest appearances. In fact, he landed his first small-screen gig on a 2003 episode of JAG at his first-ever TV audition. Within three years he had built up quite a résumé, including spots on The West Wing and Alias. Heroes, however, took his career to a super new level.
Bobby Lee Bobby Lee is notable for his membership in the recurring cast of comedians on the live comedy series MADtv. As an American of Korean ancestry, he is the shows first cast member of Asian descent, he has played Asian and Asian American celebrities and political figures including Kim Jong-il and Connie Chung. Hes also played non-Asian roles including John McCain, Seth MacFarlane (as Stewie Griffin from Family Guy), Jai Rodriguez, and The Penguin from the Batman series. Lee performs regularly at the legendary Comedy Store in West Hollywood, California.
John Legend Neo-soul singer and pianist John Legend combined the raw fervor of contemporaries Cody ChesnuTT and the burning precision of D'Angelo. Born John Stephens, Legend was a child prodigy who grew up in Ohio, where he began singing gospel and playing piano at the tender age of five. Legend left Ohio at 16 to go to college in Philadelphia, and it was there that he first found a larger audience. Not yet out of his teens, Legend was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" in 1998. After completing college, he moved to New York, where he began to build a loyal following playing in nightclubs and releasing CDs that he would sell at shows. He also became an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for a wide array of artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West. It wasn't until West signed the young talent to his new label that he adopted the Legend name with 2004's Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory. Get Lifted, his first studio album, was released later in the year.
Liverpool Legends Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album, the Liverpool Legends return to the Harper stage, performing tunes from their Ed Sullivan days through the late 60s and solo years. Hand-picked and managed by Louise Harrison, sister of the late Beatle George Harrison, these talented musicians bring the Fab Four alive during their Ultimate Beatles Tribute Show with costume changes, vintage instruments and special effects.
Christopher Lehmann-Haupt Senior Book Reviewer for The New York Times. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt has written over 3,000 book reviews and articles, on every subject from trout fishing to Persian archaeology. He is the author of Me and DiMaggio: A Baseball Fan Goes in Search of His Gods; and A Crooked Man. A charming and engaging speaker, Mr. Lehmann-Haupt talks about books, literacy and “How to Read 5,000 Books a Year.
Jim Lehrer Political analyst,and news anchor for “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.”
Jay Leno Jay Leno has been the host of NBC's Emmy-winning "The Tonight Show" since May 25, 1992, following in the footsteps of legendary late-night hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. Jay has created his own unique late-night style with a combination of humor, talk and entertainment each night at 11:35 p.m., the start of the wee hours when viewers want to wind down with a few laughs before drifting off to dreamland. Jays everyman style and personality have helped him earn millions of fans all over the world, but primarily at home in the states where people can relate to his personable style and work ethic. He has been touted as one of the nicest people in show business, and the hardest working a winning tandem for the man who says anyone can have a life, but careers are hard to come by! One of the country's premiere comedians, Jay has appeared in hundreds of comedy shows around the United States for the past 20 years. He remains passionate about performing in front of live audiences and appears regularly in Las Vegas, on college campuses around the United States, and in other venues.
Lisa Leslie All American collegiate basketball player, leading scorer for the USA's gold medal winning women's olympic basketball team and an all pro basketball player for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
Roger Leslie Roger Leslie is of White Mountain Apache, Hopi and Tewa decent. He is the General Manager for the Hon-Dah Resort, Casino and Conference Center which is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe. With a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Business Marketing, he returned to the White Mountain Apache Tribe and began his career in Indian Gaming. Determined and goal oriented, Roger became one of the youngest General Managers to run a multimillion-dollar casino operation at the age of 27. With energy and enthusiasm, Roger gives speeches thoroughout the Southwest on Motivation, Leadership, Tourism Development, and Economic Development strategies. Presentations include Business Conferences, Colleges, Universities, Educational Institutes, Youth groups and programs. Roger has been quoted in various newspapers and publications, assisted Graduate students from prestigious Universities and has been asked to submit a chapter on Successful Customer Service in a Native Work Environment for a book being written on Customer Service. Roger's successful business career does not interfere with his number one priority. "When all else fails-family will be by your side-therefore, Family should be first priority." Married fifteen years to Alivia Leslie, having four children and being involved in community activities, Roger has shown that with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve success.
Julius Lester A prominent historian, writer and a veteran of the civil rights movement. The author of many books including How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? and Falling Pieces of a Broken Sky. Julius Lester is a professor of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies and an adjunct professor inthe English and History Departments.
Al Letson With a passion for words, and an ability to deliver stirring performances, Al Letson has captured audiences nationwide with a magic all his own. Starting from humble beginnings at poetry readings in local coffee shops, Al has gone on to become a nationally recognized performance poet, actor, and playwright. Following the initial success of On the Edge of No Tomorow, an ensemble piece written and directed by Al that debuted in 2003; Al is currently finishing Chalk, a play commissioned for the senior class of the Baltimore School of the Arts. In addition to writing, and touring with Essential Personnel, Al currently works with grade school and college students, teaching and encouraging young people to speak out and let their voices be heard through writing and performance poetry. In 2001 Al began to turn his attention to acting and playwriting with the initial production of Essential Personnel a one-man play, written and performed by Al combining poetry, theater, and music. Through the embodiment of 8 characters this innovative piece explores the common humanity in us all. An excerpt of Essential Personnel was chosen to participate in the Third NYC Hip-Hop Theater Festival, and has enjoyed runs in several theaters and colleges.In the late nineties Al established himself as a heavyweight contender in the Poetry Slam Movement by winning the 2000 Atlanta Grand Slam, ranking 3rd at the National Poetry Slam (2000), and more recently taking part in Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam. Collaborations in filmmaking lead to a movie short adaptation of one of Al’s poems Philadelphia. The movie short titled Stoplights went on to become an official selection of the 2001 Urban World Film Festival and has garnered critical acclaim.
Irving R. Levine NBC News economic affairs correspondent.
Elizabeth Levy Celebrated author of over 70 books for children with more than five million books in print. She is best known for her humorous mysteries including the Something Queer..., The Pea Brain and Brian Brain and Invisible, Inc. series and the Sam and Robert monster books. Her most recent books are The Drowned, a stunning tale of the supernatural, and a picture book, Cleo and the Coyote.
Marv Levy Dynamic motivational speaker and coach of the Buffalo Bills football team for 12 seasons, Marv Levy retired in 1997 after having led his team to 8 post season appearances. He is the winningest coach in Buffalo Bills history and the only coach to lead his team to 4 consecutive Super Bowl appearances. He has recently continued his winning ways in his personal battle with prostate cancer.
Naomi Levy Author of the highly acclaimed and inspiring national bestseller, To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times. The first female conservative rabbi to head a congregation on the West Coast, Naomi Levy now teaches and lectures throughout the country on issues of healing, spirituality and faith.
Delano Lewis A leading African American business executive and former president and chief executive officer of National Public Radio, the leading public radio network in America. Lewis was chairman of the NPR Foundation and now serves as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa.
Edward Lewis A prominent African American businessman, Edward Lewis is the publisher of Essence magazine and Chief Executive Officer of Essence Communications, Inc.
Dawnn Lewis Popular actress, composer and motivational speaker, Dawnn Lewis starred in such television series as "A Different World"; "Hanging With Mr. Cooper." Dawnn was first known as Jaleesa Vinson on "A Different World", then as Robin on "Hanging With Mr. Cooper" and HBO's "Dream On." Her movie fans remember her from Keenan Ivory Wayan's "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka" and "Race to Freedom". Dawnn will appear in a special week long segment of A Different World called the Hillman College Reunion airing on Nick At Nite, along with Lisa Bonet, Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, and Sinbad. She is scheduled to play Deloris Van Cartier in Peter Schnieder's musical version of Sister Act, due to open at the Pasadena Playhouse on October 24, 2006.
John Lewis Civil rights leader and influential United States Congressman from Georgia.
Ananda Lewis Award-Winning Host of “The Ananda Lewis Show” A combination of deep compassion, true intelligence, striking beauty and a big mouth has helped award winning television host Ananda Lewis reach new heights. Her talents have garnered a wealth of achievements, yet she has only just begun! Ananda, Sanskrit for "bliss", has been touching lives on and off screen since the age of 13. The San Diego, California native was a Head Start volunteer while a student at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. For nine years (4th through 12th grades) Ananda studied theater, vocal music, photography, and dance at the prestigious school that she credits with giving her the ability to maintain a free spirit and cultivate her confidence. "The teachers I had at SDSCPA and the supportive, nurturing environment of the campus in general are probably the #1 reason I am seeing success now," she says. After graduating from high school, Ananda left San Diego to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. For three seasons Ananda served as Host of BET’s Teen Summit, one of the station’s top rated shows which reached 42 million household’s LIVE each week. Her gift for affecting the lives of young people beamed out at us through the screen and her natural and obviously genuine relationship with co-host DaJour, had a lot of us thinking they were siblings. "Everybody would ask if Dajour, was my brother. I guess in a way he was - through talking about our lives, families and how to improve ourselves and our show." The teamwork obviously served them well. Teen Summit’s "It Takes a Village" show earned them a 1997 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Youth Series in large part because of Ananda’s interview with Hillary Rodham-Clinton. Teen Summit was also nominated for 1996 Cable Ace Award for its special on "homeless teens". During the summer of 1997, Ananda faced another life-changing decision when an opportunity at another television network arose. MTV had come knocking and Ananda was not sure about opening the door. "Up until that time I had been doing a show that meant great deal to not only me, but our viewers and the continued progress and healing of everyone it touched. I knew that I would not readily have access to doing a show like this again for a very long time and I had a real problem with that. For years it had been clear to me that I came to this planet to impact people’s lives, change things and help people heal by increasing their personal power and rejecting the lies we’ve all been taught since birth about ourselves and our potential. Yet I understood that in order to do that effectively, I would need the attention of the masses, not just my own people. I saw MTV not only as access to the masses, but also as an opportunity to be more of the woman I am and cultivate my ability to have fun, my social skills and whatever else the Creator had in store for me with this new opportunity."
Richard Lewis Well known comedian and actor, Rchard Lewis is probably best known for his role as himself on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" with Larry David
Helena D. Lewis A poetic powerhouse, HELENA D. LEWIS is a passionate performer gifted with keen insight. Lewis graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in Biology and is a former member of the poetic trio, 2 Dogs & A Cat, Nubian Expressions, Uninhibited Theater Company, and the undefeated New Jersey First Wave Slam Team. Lewis was a member of the Nuyorican Poets Café 2000 National Slam Team which placed third at the National Poetry Slam in Providence, Rhode Island. Lewis, a Soul Café 2001 finalist, and Hottest Poets MTV Networks 2002 finalist was featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam III.
Marvin Lewis Marvin Lewis born September 23, 1958 in McDonald, Pennsylvania) is the head coach of the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals franchise, a position he has held since since January, 2003. Lewis is credited as being instrumental in the Bengals' improvement. Before his arrival, the team had experienced just one non-losing season in fifteen previous seasons. Indeed, he is the only coach in team history to not have a losing record. He grew up in suburban Pittsburgh and attended Fort Cherry High School. He was a notable quarterback and safety. After graduating high school, Marvin Lewis attended the Division I-AA Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. On the Idaho State football team, he played linebacker as well as quarterback and free safety. In a coincidence foreshadowing his future role in the National Football League, Idaho State's athletic teams are known as the Bengals. Lewis earned All-Big Sky Conference honors as a linebacker in 1978, 1979 and 1980. After not being drafted in the NFL, Lewis decided to become the ISU Bengals' linebacker coach rather than attempt to sign with a team as a non-drafted player. Academically, Lewis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education in 1981 and a Master of Physical Education degree in athletic administration in 1982. He was inducted into the Idaho State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. In 1984 Lewis left Idaho State and became linebacker coach at Long Beach State University. He later held coaching positions at the University of New Mexico and the University of Pittsburgh. In 1992, Marvin Lewis was hired by the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers as linebackers coach. It was his first job in the professional ranks, and Lewis was with the organization until he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. In 2000, the Ravens won the Super Bowl, defeating the New York Giants 34-7. His defensive squad, led by Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis (no relation) set several NFL regular season records, including recording four shutouts, allowing the fewest rushing yards (970) and the fewest points (165) in a 16-game season. Lewis' reputation as a defensive genius and a rising star among the ranks of the NFL's assistant coaches was solidified by the dominating performance of the Ravens. In 2002, Lewis was hired as the Washington Redskins' defensive coordinator and was with the team one year. In 2003, Lewis was hired as head coach by the Cincinnati Bengals, a beleaguered franchise that had not made the playoffs or recorded a winning record since the 1990 season and had a 2-14 record the previous season, the worst performance in team history. Moreover, Cincinnati was viewed by many as the Siberia of the NFL and was beset by legal problems over their new facility, Paul Brown Stadium, and the Bengals' majority owner, Mike Brown, the son of the Bengals' legendary founder and first coach, Paul Brown, was excoriated by the fans for incompetence. The Bengals started Lewis' rookie season 1-4, and it looked like they were heading for yet another miserable year, but they recovered and finished the year with a respectable 8-8 record. One key reason was the re-emergence of veteran quarterback Jon Kitna, the former Seattle Seahawks signalcaller who signed with the Bengals in 2001. Kitna threw for over 3,500 yards, 26 touchdown passes, and won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award. However, the consensus opinion among fans and pundits was that Carson Palmer, the Bengals' Heisman Trophy-winning number one draft pick out of USC in 2003 would be the starter in 2004. Palmer did not play a single down in the regular season; Kitna, in fact, took every single snap. That opinion became fact when, before training camp, Palmer was named the #1 quarterback. However, the team was plagued with injuries and difficulty in getting used to a new quarterback. Once again the team started the season with a 1-4 record. Lewis' choice to start Palmer seemed like it might have been a bad one, but, as they had done the previous season, the Bengals recovered and finished the season with an identical 8-8 record. In 2005, the Bengals won the AFC North division with an 11-5 record, ending a league-high fifteen-year streak of futility. Palmer led the NFL in completion percentage, threw for 3,836 yards, set a franchise record with 32 touchdown passes, and made the Pro Bowl. Running back Rudi Johnson and receiver Chad Johnson set new team marks in rushing and reception yardage, respectively. However, in the 2005 AFC Wild Card game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on January 8, 2005, Palmer suffered a devastating knee injury on the second offensive play: a 66-yard strike to receiver Chris Henry, who suffered a comparatively minor knee injury himself on the play. Kitna replaced Palmer, but the Bengals were unable to contain the Steelers, who won 31-17 and eventually won Super Bowl XL. Currently, Lewis is one of seven black head coaches in the National Football League. The others are Art Shell (Oakland Raiders), Romeo Crennel (Cleveland Browns), Tony Dungy (Indianapolis Colts), Herman Edwards (Kansas City Chiefs), Dennis Green (Arizona Cardinals), and Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears). Since August, 2002, Marvin Lewis has also been affectionately referred to as "Black Jesus" by Bengals players and fans. "No sacrilege intended, but he is resurrecting this franchise," said former Bengal and present New England Patriots cornerback Artrell Hawkins in 2003. This name has garnered some national recognition and ESPN The Magazine in a January, 2005 article by writer Tom Friend even referred to him, not by his given name, but as "Black Jesus". In that same article, former Bengals running back Corey Dillon said, "You've got your Black Jesus, I'm your Judas, why hold me hostage? Set me free." However, Lewis has been quick to deflect any such praise. Lewis is married to Peggy Lewis and has two children, Whitney and Marcus.
Rae Lewis-Thornton Rae Lewis-Thornton was diagnosed HIV Positive in 1986 at the age of 23, and today has AIDS. She uses her life as an example that AIDS is a non-discriminatory disease, challenging the common myths and stereotypes surrounding who can become infected with the HIV virus, and how the virus is transmitted. Featured in Essence magazine as well as the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, the "Oprah Winfrey Show," "Nightline" and on several national television documentaries, Lewis-Thornton is a political science master's candidate and is currently enrolled in a master's in divinity program. She is on a crusade to educate and challenge young and old audiences to take care of their bodies, futures and health.
Jet Li Popular Chinese-American actor and martial arts expert who has starred in such movies as Romeo Must Die, Lethal Weapon IV and "Kiss of the Dragon."
Mara Liasson White House correspondent for National Public Radio, Mara Liasson regularly reports on NPR's "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered." An insightful and provocative reporter, she is a frequent guest on the weekly television news show, "Washington Week In Review."
Nancy Lieberman-Cline CBA and college basketball analyst and former college and pro basketball star.
Wendy Liebman Up and coming young comedian who has starred in her own HBO comedy special and on Comic Relief. She has won The American Comedy Awards "Best Female Stand-up Comic" award and has made regular appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
David Liederman Entrepreneur, founder of David’s Cookies and motivational speaker.
Sara Lawrence Lightfoot Eminent educator, sociologist and author of such books as Worlds Apart: Relationships Between Families and Schools; and I've Known Rivers: African American Stories of Loss and Liberation.
Rush Limbaugh A conservative, he discusses politics and current events on his show, The Rush Limbaugh Show using a style that bounces "between earnest lecturer and political vaudvillian". His show was first nationally syndicated in August 1988, and as of 2005 (according to Arbitron ratings surveys) its audience was estimated at 13.5 million listeners per week, making it the largest radio talk show audience in the United States. Such high ratings have been a consistent hallmark of his show. The Rush Limbaugh Show has been largely credited for the large shift in AM broadcasting to a news-talk format after an audience decline in the 1970s. Limbaugh was the 1992, 1995, 2000, and 2005 recipient of the Marconi Radio Award for Syndicated Radio Personality of the Year, given by the National Association of Broadcasters, joining the syndicated Bob & Tom Show as the only other four-time winner of a Marconi award. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2002, industry publication Talkers magazine ranked him as the greatest radio talk show host of all time. Although Limbaugh's audience is not monolithic, he does attract the highest percentage (56%) of hard news consumers relative to all other television and radio programs in the United States.
C.L. Lindsey In 1998, attorney C.L. Lindsay III, left his practice in New York City to found the Coalition for Student & Academic Rights (CO-STAR). Since then, acting as its Executive Director, he has built CO-STAR into a national student rights organization that helps thousands of college students with their legal problems, free of charge, each year. C.L. is a nationally recognized expert and leader in the field of student rights and academic freedom. His syndicated column, Ask CO-STAR is distributed nationwide on Knight Ridder/Tribunes College Wire Service. The column, published weekly, has become one of Knight Ridder/Tribune's most popular features. He is also the author of The College Student's Guide to the Law: Get a Grade Changed, Keep Your Stuff Private, Throw a Police-Free Party, and More! published in August 2005 by Taylor Trade Publishing. He has appeared on national television, radio and has been featured in countless regional and national publications, including US News & World Reports, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Review of Higher Education, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, New York Daily News, Newsday, CBS News Radio, Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane (NPR), The Sally Jesse Raphael Show, College Bound Teen, and The Christian Science Monitor. He graduated magna cum laude from Denison University, and received his J.D. from the University of Michigan. In his spare time, he teaches courses in Law and Literature at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lisa Ling Lisa Ling is an journalist, best known for her role as a co-host of ABC's The View, and host of National Geographic Ultimate Explorer. Ling, a Chinese American, started in television at 16, when she was chosen as one of the four hosts of Scratch, a nationally-syndicated teen magazine show based in Sacramento. At 18, she joined Channel One News as one of their youngest reporters and anchors. Among her roles was war correspondent, including assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. She attended the University of Southern California. During her time there, she had to miss her Russian Studies class to cover the 1992 Russian Referendum; her teacher understood. Ling joined The View on August 2, 1999, representing the "young voice" on the panel. She drew fire for her comments after the September 11, 2001 attacks, in which she stated that Americans should think about why other people would want to attack. In April of 2001, she competed in and completed the Boston Marathon. Ling left The View in 2002 to host National Geographic Ultimate Explorer on MSNBC. A couple of years later the show moved to the National Geographic Channel with the return of the original name National Geographic Explorer. In recent years, Oprah Winfrey has featured many of Ling's investigative pieces. Ling's title is "Oprah Show Investigative Reporter."
Art Linkletter Popular radio and television personality, Art Linkletter hosted "House Party" on CBS TV and radio for 25 years and "People are Funny", which ran on NBC TV and radio for 19 years. He is the author of 23 books including the best seller, Kids Say The Darndest Things and his most recent bestseller, Old Age Is Not For Sissies.
Flaming Lips Even within the eclectic world of alternative rock, few bands were so brave, so frequently brilliant, and so deliciously weird as the Flaming Lips. From their beginnings as Oklahoma weirdos to their pop culture breakthrough in the mid-'90s to their status as one of the most respected groups of the 2000s, the Lips have ridden one of the more surreal and haphazard career trajectories in pop music. An acid-bubblegum band with as much affinity for sweet melodies as blistering noise assaults, their off-kilter sound, uncommon emotional depth, and bizarre history (packed with tales of self-immolating fans and the like) firmly established them as true originals. The Flaming Lips formed in Oklahoma City in 1983, when founder and guitarist Wayne Coyne allegedly stole a collection of musical instruments from an area church hall and enlisted his vocalist brother Mark and bassist Michael Ivins to start a band. Giving themselves the nonsensical name the Flaming Lips (its origin variously attributed to a porn film, an obscure drug reference, or a dream in which a fiery Virgin Mary plants a kiss on Wayne in the backseat of his car), the band made its live debut at a local transvestite club. After progressing through an endless string of drummers, they recruited percussionist Richard English prior to recording their self-titled debut, issued on green vinyl on their own Lovely Sorts of Death label in 1985. When Mark Coyne soon departed to get married, Wayne assumed full control of the group; in addition to remaining its lead guitarist, he also became the primary singer and songwriter. Continuing on as a trio, the Lips released 1986's Hear It Is, followed a year later by Oh My Gawd!!!...The Flaming Lips. While touring in support of the Butthole Surfers, they played Buffalo, NY, where they were befriended by concert promoter Jonathan Donahue; after a jam session with Donahue's nascent band Mercury Rev, he and Coyne became close friends, and Donahue eventually signed on as the group's sound technician. After recording 1988's difficult Telepathic Surgery, English exited, reducing the Lips to the core duo of Coyne and Ivins; after adding drummer Nathan Roberts, Donahue adopted the name Dingus and became a full-time member in time to cut 1990's stellar In a Priest Driven Ambulance while simultaneously recording the brilliant Mercury Rev debut, Yerself Is Steam. Following a series of hopeful phone calls to Warner Bros., the company signed the band in 1991, and in 1992 their oft-delayed major-label debut, Hit to Death in the Future Head, appeared to little commercial notice; Donahue soon exited to focus his full energies on Mercury Rev, followed by the departure of Roberts. With new guitarist Ronald Jones and drummer Steven Drozd, they cut 1993's sublime Transmissions from the Satellite Heart, which they supported by playing the second stage at Lollapalooza and touring the nation in a Ryder truck. Initially, the album stiffed; however, nearly a year after its initial release, the single "She Don't Use Jelly" became a grassroots hit, and against all odds the Flaming Lips found themselves on the Top 40 charts. They took full advantage of their requisite 15 minutes of fame, appearing everywhere from MTV's annual Spring Break broadcast to an arena tour in support of Candlebox to a memorably surreal lip-synched performance on the teen soap opera Beverly Hills 90210, where supporting character Steve Sanders (portrayed by actor Ian Ziering) uttered the immortal words, "You know, I've never been a big fan of alternative music, but these guys rocked the house!" After the 1994 release of a limited-edition sampler of odds-and-ends titled Providing Needles for Your Balloons, the Lips returned in 1995 with Clouds Taste Metallic, a strikingly mature and diverse collection highlighted by the singles "Bad Days" (also heard in the film Batman Forever), "This Here Giraffe," and "Brainville." Despite the inclusion of the remarkably melodic "Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles," "Christmas at the Zoo" (rumored to be under consideration for inclusion on an upcoming John Tesh holiday record), and the epic "Guy Who Got a Headache and Accidentally Saves the World," the album nonetheless failed to live up to the commercial success of Transmissions, and the band was once again relegated to cult status. In 1996, the Lips' world went haywire; first, Jones disappeared to undertake a spiritual odyssey from which he did not return, then Drozd's hand was almost needlessly amputated after he was bitten by a spider. At about the same time, Ivins was the victim of a bizarre hit-and-run accident after a wheel came off of another vehicle and slammed into his car, trapping him inside. Ironically, Coyne was having car problems of his own when rumors of his latest sonic foray -- conducting an orchestra of 40 automobiles, all with their tape decks playing specially composed music at the same time -- prompted fan discussion of his possible psychological collapse. "I would try to tell people what I was doing and found that I couldn't explain it very well," Coyne later remarked about the project, dubbed the Parking Lot Experiment. "Plus, I had a sore on the side of my tongue for a week and it made me talk kind of weird. I'm sure they thought I was retarded."
James Lipton James Lipton is widely known as the creator, executive-producer, writer and host of Inside the Actors Studio, which is seen in 80 million American homes on Bravo, and around the world in 125 countries. From 1994 to the present, more than 200 actors, directors and writers have joined him in creating what many consider the definitive craft archive of our time. The television series, which has been recognized with twelve Emmy nominations in twelve years, is in fact a course in a master's degree program, the renowned Actors Studio Drama School of Pace University, which was created thirteen years ago by Mr. Lipton as a vice-president of the Actors Studio, in collaboration with his Studio colleagues, and which, with Mr. Lipton as its founding dean, became the largest graduate drama school in America. Just as each of his distinguished guests brings to Inside the Actors Studio a lifetime of experience to be shared with the school's students, Mr. Lipton brings to the series and the school his experience as actor, director and producer in theater, film and television, choreographer, playwright, lyricist, screenwriter, author of both fiction and non-fiction, and academician. More than ten years of his life were spent in the classroom as a student of three of the acknowledged masters of the theatrical arts, Stella Adler, Harold Clurman and Robert Lewis. He was trained in modern dance and ballet by Hanya Holm and Alwin Nikolais, and in ballet by Ella Daganova and Benjamin Harkarvy. His voice teachers were Eva Gauthier and Arthur Lessac. His acting career began on Broadway in “The Autumn Garden” by Lillian Hellman, and extended to a wide variety of roles in film and television.
LISA LISA Her motto is "Taking Charge of 'Self' for a Better World." LISA LISA has emerged as a pop star with three platinum record awards and seven gold record awards from around the world. Her long string of #1 hits made her the first Latin female cross-over artist. After five albums and sold out international tours, Lisa is now a solo artist who is topping the charts. She grew up on the mean streets of New York City, raised in a single parent home with nine siblings that was often dependent upon welfare. She is sharing her inspiring story to motivate others to escape the violence, drugs, gangs, racism and other problems plaguing our youth.
Jamie Lissow Jamie Lissow is one of comedys fastest rising stars, having made appearances on the Tonight Show and Comedy Centrals Premium Blend. He was nominated twice for Campus Performer of the Year, giving him the opportunity to perform at over 200 colleges. Jamie has also been featured in The Nobodies of Comedy, our annual comedy showcase of the future starts of comedy.
John Lithgow John Lithgow is a two time Tony Award winner and was most recently nominated for his starring performance in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Previous credits on Broadway include: Mrs. Farnsworth, The Retreat From Moscow and Sweet Smell of Success. TV credits include 3rd Rock from the which he received three Emmys, a Golden Globe, an American Comedy Award and two SAG Awards - Twilight Zone (Emmy Award) and Don Quixote (SAG Award nomination). Mr. Lithgow's films include The World According to Garp (Academy Award nomination), Terms of Endearment (Academy Award nomination), Shrek, Cliffhanger, The Pelican Brief, Memphis Belle, Footloose, Raising Cain, OrangeCounty, Ricochet and A Civil Action. Recent releases include a starring role in the feature film Kinsey and a HBO tele-film, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, in which he portrays Blake Edwards (November 2004). Lithgow is also the New York Times best-selling author of Carnival of the Animals, I'm a Manatee, Micawber, Marsupial Sue, Marsupial Sue Presents: The Runaway Pancake and The Remarkable Farkle McBride. He has performed in numerous concerts for children across the country - including four appearances at Carnegie Hall and shows with the Chicago, San Diego, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, the New York Pops Orchestra and the Orchestra of Saint Luke's - as well as with New York City Ballet in Carnival of the Animals. Lithgow has also recorded two CDs, Farkle & Friends and Singin' in the Bathtub. His first non-fiction book, A Lithgow Palooza!: 101 Ways to Entertain and Inspire Your Kids, was released in April 2004, and has received the Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award. Five sequel books, Lithgow Party Paloozas! 52 Unexpected Ways to Make a Birthday, Holiday, or Any Day a Celebration for Kids, Lithgow Paloozas! Boredom Blasters: Rainy Day Edition, Halloween Edition, Sick Day Edition and Travel Edition are currently in bookstores.
Aimee Liu Asian American author of such books as Solitaire; and Face, Aimee Liu writes and speaks about such topics as Chinese American intermarriage and biracial identity.
Fang Lizhi One of China's most prominent dissident and intellectual, Fang Lizhi was allowed to leave China more than a year after taking refuge in the United States Embassy in Beijing the day after the Communist leaders sent troops into Tiananmen Square. Fang Lizhi, a physics professor, became a human rights symbol and a thorn in the side of China's government after inspiring pro-democracy student demonstrations.
Maestro Keith Lockhart Maestro Keith Lockhart is only the third conductor to lead the Boston Pops since 1930. He succeeded John Williams with style. He has been a featured speaker at the National Press Club, broadcast live on National Public Radio. Lockhart is a warm and engaging personality who speaks passionately about his craft. He fascinates and entertains audiences with an up-close and personal time-line of our country's distinct musical style. Lockhart's presentation is "A Musical Slice of America," featuring the Beacon Brass Quintet. In February 1995 Keith Lockhart was named twentieth Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra since it's founding in 1885. Entering his eighth season as Pops Conductor, Lockhart has conducted more than 500 concerts; made more than forty-four television shows; appeared twice with the Boston Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, most recently in April 2000; and led fourteen national tours with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, as well as three overseas tours to Japan and Korea. Since 1996 Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra have released multiple albums under an exclusive contract with RCA Victor. Their seventh recording, The Latin Album, released in September 2000, was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award. Lockhart's first six RCA Victor albums with the Boston Pops Orchestra-Runnin' Wild, The Boston Pops Play Glenn Miller, American Visions, the Grammy-nominated The Celtic Album, Holiday Pops and A Splash of Pops-- all received critical and popular acclaim. A compilation album entitled Encore! features tracks from those recordings. The orchestra's latest recording, My Favorite Things: A Richard Rodgers Celebration was released in April 2002, in conjunction with the worldwide celebration of that composer's birth. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1959, Lockhart holds degrees from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He held positions in Pittsburgh and Akron before becoming a Conducting Fellow of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute in 1989. The following year he moved to Cincinnati as Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, later serving as Associate Conductor of both the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops orchestras, while also becoming Music Director of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, a title he held through the 1998-99 season. Beginning his fourth year as Music Director of the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City, Mr. Lockhart succeeded Maurice Abravanel and Joseph Silverstein in that post. He studied piano with John Noel Roberts, Gwendolyn Stevens, and Maria-Regina Seidlhofer of the Vienna Hochschule. His training as a conductor includes study with Istvan Jaray, Otto-Werner Mueller, Harold Farberman and Werner Torkanowsky. As a guest artist, Lockhart has conducted the major symphony orchestras of Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Singapore, Toronto and Vancouver. In addition, he has led the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the National Arts Center Orchestra of Ottawa, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. In 1997 he led his first major opera production, Douglas Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe, with the Washington (D.C.) Opera. In addition to his ongoing work with the Utah Symphony, recent activities include debuts with the New York Chamber Symphony, the Houston Symphony, and the New Japan Philharmonic, and re-engagements with the Vancouver Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, and the Colorado Symphony. Lockhart holds both the Julian and Eunice Cohen Boston Pops Conductor's Chair and the Germeshausen Family Boston Symphony Youth Concerts Conductor's Chair. In addition, he serves as a "godparent" for the John D. Philbrick Elementary School in Roslindale as part of the Boston Music Education Collaborative. He has been awarded honorary doctorates from the Boston Conservatory, Northeastern University, and his alma mater, Furman University.
Roger Lodge As the host of BLIND DATE, television's most successful syndicated dating program, Roger Lodge is a dating expert extraordinaire (in watching the show, you'll notice he's also adept at recognizing when people are making fools of themselves). In addition to the often hilarious commentary he shares between video dates on the comical show, Roger writes a dating column for popular publications such as Mademoiselle, Glamour, Seventeen, and Elle. While lecturing on campuses across the country, Roger provides students with a humorous behind the scenes glimpse of BLIND DATE, by showing film clips and outtakes and by telling anecdotes that might even make Hugh Hefner blush! During his funny and entertaining lecture, Roger also discusses dating do's and don'ts with his audience.
Dr. James Loewen James Loewen's gripping retelling of American history as it should, and could, be taught, Lies My Teacher Told Me, has sold more than 800,000 copies and continues to inspire K-16 teachers to get students to challenge, rather than memorize, their textbooks. Jim Loewen taught race relations for twenty years at the University of Vermont. Previously he taught at predominantly black Tougaloo College in Mississippi. He now lives in Washington, D.C., continuing his research on how Americans remember their past. Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong came out in 1999. The Gustavus Myers Foundation named his new book, Sundown Towns, a "Distinguished Book of 2005." His other books include Mississippi: Conflict and Change (co authored), which won the Lillian Smith Award for Best Southern Nonfiction but was rejected for public school text use by the State of Mississippi, leading to the path breaking First Amendment lawsuit, Loewen et al. v. Turnipseed, et al. He also wrote The Mississippi Chinese: Between Black and White, Social Science in the Courtroom, and The Truth About Columbus. He has been an expert witness in more than 50 civil rights, voting rights, and employment cases. His awards include the First Annual Spivack Award of the American Sociological Association for "sociological research applied to the field of intergroup relations," the American Book Award (for Lies My Teacher Told Me), and the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award for Distinguished Anti-Racist Scholarship. He is also Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians.
James Lofton National Football League television analyst and former all-pro wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills.
Vince Lombardi, Jr. Motivational speaker and son of the legendary Green Bay Packer head football coach.Vince Lombardi, Jr. has a clear and inspiring message to share about the qualities and commitment found in high-performance people. It is a message which stems from a lifetime of experience and observation. As the son of the late Vincent T. Lombardi - remembered as one of the greatest football coaches in history - Vince's early years were spent in an atmosphere full of personal power and achievement. He moved on to politics and, in 1975, made the jump to professional football when he joined the head office of the fledgling Seattle Seahawks. He later led two United States Football League teams as president and general manager. In all of his pursuits, Vince Lombardi, Jr. has shown the remarkable ability to put people ahead of an organization, allowing each individual to do what he or she does best without losing sight of team goals.  Five Keys to a Winning Team  The Power of Choice: Change, Growth, Improvement  Power Negotiations
Stacy London From senior fashion editor at Mademoiselle to makeover maven on The Learning Channel’s What Not to Wear, for years Stacy London has had her finger firmly on the world’s fashion pulse. In her speaking engagements she discusses the importance of positive body image, addresses the perils of the nation’s obsession with weight loss, and dishes on the hottest trends in the world of style—and its most deplorable faux pas. She also gives audiences invaluable tips on creating their own personal makeover, by revealing the most flattering styles for every body type. Stacy appears regularly on The Today Show, Oprah, and Access Hollywood, and has spoken at the Harvard University Eating Disorders Center on body image, culture and media. In 2005, Dress Your Best, her first book on style by body type (co-written with Clinton Kelly), was published to rave reviews. To the stage Stacy brings the same sharp eye and snarky humor with that have made What Not to Wear a smash hit, in showing audiences healthy ways to a positive self-image and keener fashion sense
Loretta Long A well known actress, television personality and educator, Loretta Long starred as Susan on the award winning program "Sesame Street." Dr. Long is available for lectures, and workshops on children's education and the dynamics of television on the education of young children.
Howie Long Howie Long, former Hall of Fame Defensive End for the Los Angeles Raiders, is currently best known for his position of in-studio analyst for the Emmy Award winning FOX NFL Sunday team. Howie Long was twice chosen Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was elected to the Pro Bowl eight times, tying the Raiders' all-time record. Howie Long was voted Seagrams Defensive Player of the Year by the NFL coaches and general managers in 1985. He has also been named to the first team of the "All Decade Team of the 80's." In 1983, Howie Long helped lead the Raiders to their Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins. On July 29, 2000, Howie Long was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Howie became the third youngest player ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and is one of only seven defensive ends voted into the Hall. A multi-talented performer, Howie Long launched his successful television and film career after playing 13 years in the NFL for the Los Angeles Raiders. Howie Long is widely known for his appearances on the big screen as well as the gridiron. Howie Long made his feature film debut in John Woo's 1996 box office hit Broken Arrow and has since starred in the 1998 Firestorm and TNT feature Dollar for the Dead. Howie Long was also featured in 3000 Miles to Graceland, alongside Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. Long's versatility has made him a sought-after host for television specials. Long hosted the 20th anniversary special for the re-release of the "Star Wars" trilogy. He also hosted the TBS special "War Games." Long has been featured in numerous national commercials and advertising campaigns, including Radio Shack, Coors, Nike, Hanes and Campbell's Soup. Over the years, his football persona has been used on everything from clothing to toy figures to candy bars. In addition to his professional duties, Long has consistently been active in charity work. In 2005, Long was named Man of the Year by the Walter Camp Foundation for his local and national contributions to charities. He is also a past recipient of the West Coast Father's Day Council "Father of the Year" award. He is currently the Honorary Chairman of his local Boys and Girls Club. Also in 2005, he became honorary chairman of "Andrew's Buddies," an organization that raises awareness and supports research to defeat spinal muscular atrophy. In honor of his grandmother, Howie has established a scholarship fund at Villanova University that benefits underprivileged students. He annually lends his time and talent to the United Way, the Mental Health Association, and the Tracey Biletnikoff Foundation. In spring of 2001 Howie and his wife, Diane, were chairmen of Child Abuse Prevention Month in Virginia. Long is also a member of the American Cancer Society's Public Awareness Council and he was the founding National Chairman for Athletes & Entertainers for Kids. Tackling tough problems is what Howie Long is all about. Relying on his own experience and accomplishments on the gridiron, this NFL Hall of Fame defensive end shows audiences how to identify their goals and priorities, and, using persistence and a winning attitude, accomplish more than they ever thought possible. Howie Long's keen wit and insight make him an entertaining and highly sought after speaker. Howie Long's keen wit and insight make him an entertaining and highly sought after speaker. ***Topics: Tackle Your Challenges Head On: Meeting the daily challenges that life and work throw at you can be difficult. But NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long knows all too well that life’s difficult challenges can be me--and overcome. Relying on lessons he learned on the gridiron as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, Long shows audiences how they can meet adversity head-on and succeed. Committing to goals, identifying priorities, being persistent, and, most importantly, working hard are all values that Long embodied both on and off the field, and now he instills these values in others. After hearing Howie speak, you’ll come away with the energy, focus, drive and leadership tools you need to succeed in the game of life.
George Lopez Well known Hispanic stand-up comedian.
Mario Lopez Handsome and charismatic, Mario Lopez brings the man's view every woman wants to know more about to NBC Enterprise and Syndication's "The Other Half." "There's three things men always talk about - women, sports, and cars," Mario explains. "I love talking about women because they are a constant study and you're always learning." Although widely known for his role as the "high school jock" Slater on the popular NBC comedy series "Saved By The Bell," Lopez has developed into one of the fastest rising stars on television and film. He recently co-produced and starred in the independent film "The Courier" where he portrays a college student who takes a courier job to help with tuition and finds himself unwittingly involved in a drug smuggling ring. The film also starts Nancy O'Dell from "Access Hollywood." Born in San Diego, Lopez's first professional role was the younger brother on the series "A.K.A. Pablo." Throughout the years, Lopez has become known to television audiences through his series regular roles on NBC's "Saved By The Bell" and USA Network's "Pacific Blue," where he portrayed police officer Bobby Cruz. Lopez also served as host of the syndicated series "Name Your Adventure" and portrayed Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis in the telefilm "Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story." His film credits include "Colors," "Depraved" and a starring role in the 1999 independent film "Eastside." Lopez can be seen opposite Jon Seda in the upcoming independent film, "Rikki The Pig" -- an adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy "Richard III" set in the streets of East Los Angeles.
Michelle Lopez Now 36 years old, Michelle Lopez tested positive for HIV in 1991. A lesbian,immigrant, and mother of two, Michelle enrolled in a training program for women to do advocacy and treatment work in 1997. She currently works as a Treatment Educator and Client Advocate at the Community Healthcare Network in the Bronx and serves on the board of the National Association of People With AIDS. Her closest encounter with death came in 1994 when, suffering from pneumonia and a fever of 105 degrees, she credits the images of her children with restoring her strength. Raven, age 12, is also HIV-positive and has recently come to understand what she is living with, explains Michelle. Rondell is 16 and learning to grow up with an openly gay mother who speaks publicly about HIV and AIDS. But for Michelle, the last chapter is to become an American citizen and to vote. "Coming from Trinidad, voting is something deep in my heart that I want to have before I leave this earth," she says. Her current mission is to bring the voices of immigrant women impacted by HIV/AIDS to the forefront. "We make up a large portion of this pie," she explains, "and our issues must be addressed and heard to level the playing field."
Michelle Lopez Now 36 years old, Michelle Lopez tested positive for HIV in 1991. A lesbian,immigrant, and mother of two, Michelle enrolled in a training program for women to do advocacy and treatment work in 1997. She currently works as a Treatment Educator and Client Advocate at the Community Healthcare Network in the Bronx and serves on the board of the National Association of People With AIDS. Her closest encounter with death came in 1994 when, suffering from pneumonia and a fever of 105 degrees, she credits the images of her children with restoring her strength. Raven, age 12, is also HIV-positive and has recently come to understand what she is living with, explains Michelle. Rondell is 16 and learning to grow up with an openly gay mother who speaks publicly about HIV and AIDS. But for Michelle, the last chapter is to become an American citizen and to vote. "Coming from Trinidad, voting is something deep in my heart that I want to have before I leave this earth," she says. Her current mission is to bring the voices of immigrant women impacted by HIV/AIDS to the forefront. "We make up a large portion of this pie," she explains, "and our issues must be addressed and heard to level the playing field."
Gina Loring With a rich, soulful voice, thought provoking lyrics, and a powerful stage presence, Gina Loring is in a league of her own. The top ranking female poet at the 2002 National Poetry Slam, she was featured on two seasons of HBOs Russell Simmons Def Poetry. Following several showcases produced by Norman Lear, she was hired as a writer/ performer on the "Declare Yourself" tour. In conjunction with Diddys "Vote or Die" campaign and Rock the Vote, Gina helped to register thousands of young voters. She was also a featured vocalist/songwriter on the Brand New Heavies new album "We Won't Stop" and has been mentored by such artists as Randy Jackson and Marla Gibbs. With musical influences ranging from classic Hip Hop to Nina Simone, her highly reflective lyrics demonstrate her ability to reveal the intimate. Encompassing such subjects as love, spirituality and social activism, her work is raw and passionate, yet always presented with the grace that seems inherent in this young woman's spirit.
Dennis Lormel Dennis retired from the FBI following over 30 years of government service, 28 years as a Special Agent in the FBI. During his distinguished career, Dennis amassed extensive major case experience, particularly in complex, document and labor intensive financial investigative matters. As a Senior Executive, Dennis served as Section Chief for Financial Crimes where he was responsible for managing the FBI’s White Collar Crime Program. Immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 2001, Dennis formulated, established and directed the FBI’s comprehensive terrorist financing initiative. He developed and implemented a variety of proactive and progressive investigative methodologies. These efforts evolved into the formation of a formal Section within the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI, known as The Terrorist Financing Operations Section. This entity attained international recognition as one of the world’s elite operations for tracking, investigating and disrupting terrorist-related financial activity. As an avid contributor to the The Counterterrorism Blog, Dennis produces reports that focus on counterterrorism issues. Dennis received numerous commendations and awards to include the Department of Justice, Criminal Division’s, Assistant Attorney General Award for Investigative Initiative and the Central Intelligence Agency’s George H. W. Bush Award for Excellence in Counterterrorism and now on FoxNews as an expert.
The Biggest Loser The first reality series where everybody "loses," "The Biggest Loser" offers severely overweight participants the opportunity to undergo a radical physical makeover without any kind of surgery. Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives) joins the show to host the fourth season of the series, which challenges and encourages overweight contestants to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. The unscripted and life-altering one-hour reality series gathers contestants from across the country to face real-life temptations, while being provided with approved weight-loss skills and resources in an effort to help them transform their bodies, health -- and ultimately -- their lives. The Biggest Loser provides the 18 strongwilled, yet hopeful, contestants with challenges, temptations, weighins and eliminations until the final contestant remains to claim the title of the biggest loser. Each team works out under the supervision of professional trainers Kim Lyons and Bob Harper.The series has become a worldwide hit airing in over 35 territories and 15 countries. It has also produced a New York Times best-selling book and a burgeoning online lifestyle.
Ronnie Lott A punishing defensive back in the 1980s and 90s, Ronnie Lott won four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers and earned 10 Pro Bowl appearances during his 14-year NFL career. He was named to the leagues 75th anniversary team in 1994 and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Today, Lott continues to make an impact off the field. In 1989, he founded All Stars Helping Kids, a philanthropic organization that leverages the names, efforts and resources of other initiatives for disadvantaged children. He also is the chairman of Play It Smart, the National Football Foundation program that seeks to improve the learning environment and build leadership skills for high school student athletes. In 1999, he co-founded HRJ Capital, a private-equity firm that manages almost $2 billion in assets.athletes, corporate leaders and individual donors to promote and foster educational and health initiatives for disadvantaged children. He also is the chairman of Play It Smart, the National Football Foundation program that seeks to improve the learning environment and build leadership skills for high school student athletes. In 1999, he co-founded HRJ Capital, a private-equity firm that manages almost $2 billion in assets. Biography Ronnie Lott, an All-American from Southern California, was the San Francisco 49ers' first round draft pick and the eighth player chosen overall in the 1981 National Football League Draft. The 6-0, 203-pound defensive back made an immediate impression and was named the starting left cornerback from his first day in training camp. In his first NFL season, Lott led a young secondary that helped the 49ers to win Super Bowl XVI. He became the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns. His outstanding play resulted in his finishing second for Rookie of the Year honors. Known for his hard-hitting style, Lott was used at both left and right cornerback positions and as a free and strong safety during his 14-year career. The versatile defensive back earned 10 Pro Bowl invitations at three different positions - cornerback, free safety, and strong safety. It was, however, at free safety, where he had the freedom to cover the whole field, that he may have been most effective. In 1986, he played 14 games at the free safety position before an injury sidelined him for the final two games of the season. Still, he led the league with a career-most 10 interceptions, recorded 77 tackles, three forced fumbles and two quarterback sacks. It was perhaps his finest season. During his career with the 49ers (1981-90), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-92), and the New York Jets (1993-94) Lott recorded 63 career interceptions and twice led the league. A complete player, he surpassed the 1,000-career tackle mark in 1993, and had five seasons of at least 100 tackles. In his ten seasons with the 49ers, San Francisco won eight NFC Western Division titles and four Super Bowls. In 20 playoff contests (all starts), he recorded nine interceptions, 89 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns. It has been said that Lott had the uncanny ability of being able to sense the direction a play was about to take and then somehow disrupt it. "He's like a middle linebacker playing safety," Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry once remarked. "He's devastating. He may dominate the secondary better than anyone I've seen." Named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once, Lott was also selected to play in 10 Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Jennifer Louden Best selling author, speaker and life-coach, Jennifer Louden delivers an entertaining talk on unleashing one's creativity and living a life that feels right. Her books include: The Woman's Comfort Book, The Couple's Comfort Book, The Woman's Retreat Book and The Comfort Queen's Guide to Life.
Greg Louganis Greg Louganis began competing in diving at age 10. By 16, he had won his first Olympic medal, a silver medal on the platform in 1976. At 24, he became the first man in 56 years to win two gold medals in diving by winning both the platform and springboard events. In 1988, competing against divers half his age, he became the first to win double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympics. Louganis diving accomplishments do not stop there. He is a six time World Champion and has held 47 National Championship titles. At the Pan Am Games he earned six gold medals and in 1985 he was awarded the Sullivan Award as the nations most outstanding amateur athlete. Louganis is clearly the worlds greatest diver and a fine athlete. At the 1988 Olympic Games he was awarded the Maxwell House/United States Olympic Committee Spirit Award as the Olympic athlete who had best exhibited the ideals of the Olympic spirit, demonstrated extraordinary courage and contributed significantly to the sport. Louganis is more than just a diver, he stands out as a human being as well. Although he is best known for his accomplishments as an Olympic Gold Medalist, Louganis has battled depression and persevered despite that and other challenges in his personal life. His best-selling autobiography, Breaking the Surface, is a revealing account of a man struggling with far more than simply striving to be a great athlete. For years, Louganis cheerful public persona never hinted at the personal troubles he had to surmount - his HIV diagnosis, coming out as a gay man, domestic violence, substance abuse, dyslexia and surrounding all of this, his depression. Today, Louganis speaks out for many organizations including youth clubs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation groups, and organizations for the dyslexic on obstacles he has overcome with a warmth and grace that embody the Olympic spirit. A popular speaker for universities, community associations, health care organizations and corporate groups, his honesty and message of tolerance and understanding have inspired millions around the world. Louganis autobiography, Breaking the Surface, spent five weeks at number one on The New York Times bestseller List. He then produced a video diary called "Looking to the Light," which picked up where Breaking the Surface left off. His second book, For the Life of Your Dog, has just been published.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. One of the United States most influential cultural critics, Henry Louis Gates Jr. is both an eloquent commentator and formidable intellectual force on multicultural and African American issues. He is widely acknowledged for taking African American studies beyond the ideological bent of the 1970s and 80s black power movement, and bringing it into a scholarly sphere that is the equivalent to all other disciplines. He is currently the W. E. B. Du Bois Professor of the Humanities and the director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Studies at Harvard University. In 1997, Gates was named one of Time magazines 25 most influential Americans. He is a prolific writer who has authored, co authored, edited, or co edited several books and written numerous articles. His books include Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man and The Future of the Race with co author and Princeton professor Cornell West. His articles have appeared in The New Yorker, Time, The New Republic, and The New York Times. Gates is also the editor of Transition magazine, an international review of African, Carribean, and African American politics. In 2006, he wrote and produced the PBS documentary African American Lives, the first documentary series to employ genealogy and science to provide an understanding of African American history. His current projects include a sequel to African American Lives, as well as a documentary titled Finding Oprah’s Roots, where he expands on one of the most popular individuals featured in African American Lives. Gates honors and grants include a MacArthur Foundation genius grant and the George Polk Award for Social Commentary, a national humanities medal. Gates has also received more than 40 honorary degrees.
Mother Love Former host of the television show "Forgive or Forget", Mother Love is an accomplished author, actress and radio personality and motivational speaker.
Dr. Ruth Love Prominent African-American educator and an expert on urban education, Ruth Love is the former superintencent of schools in Chicago, Illnois and Oakland, California. She lectures on urban education, African American issues and women's issues. Topics: All Children Can and Must Learn, Closing the Achievement Gap, Civil Rights: This Millenium, The Strengths of Diversity, Women: Climbing Jacob's Ladder and A Womanist View.
Aulelei Love Aulelei Love, a poet, playwright and mother, is a Miami native of Samoan roots who now lives in the Washington D.C. area. Though she has been performing in local venues for the past four years, it was only last summer that she entered her first contest - the Slamicide in Baltimore - where she took first place. Prior to her foray in poetry slams, Love found success in speech and debate competitions, even winning the 1999 Roland Lantham Oratory Competition at Northeastern University. She also worked alongside the acclaimed playwright Ed Bullins and helped found HoneyChile, an online collaboration of women writers. Love is also the author of a book, I Don't Write Pretty: A Collection Of Confessions.
Loni Love Just how funny is comedian and actress Loni Love? Ask both Variety and Comedy Central, both of which have named her among their Top 10 Comics to Watch, or Campus Activity magazine, which honored her as its Hot Comic for 2009. Love is not only one of the most hilarious and lovable comics performing stand-up on the comedy club and college circuits but also a busy TV host, guest and actress who has also appeared in films and dramatic plays. Love starred in her own half-hour special for Comedy Central in 2007 and has also been seen on the channel's "Premium Blend," "Weekends at the DL" and "Chocolate News". Her many television appearances include "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn," "The Best Damn Sports Show Period", VH1's "I Love the 70's/80's/90's," "Vh1's The Great Debate" and "Comics Unleashed" among numerous others. Love has enjoyed a recurring role on the Nickelodeon show "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" as well as guest starring roles on UPN's "Girlfriends" and the CBS sitcom "Worst Week." She was host of the "E! Wildest TV Show Moments" and guest host on "GSN Live,". In 2009 Loni became a CNN correspondent for the show "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News" covering the inauguration of President Barak Obama as well as doing correspondence for the "Dr. Oz Show". Currently Loni is a regular panelist on E!s hit show "Chelsea Lately" and TruTV's "The Smoking Gun Presents: The World's Dumbest". Loni taped her first one hour special for Comedy Central " America's Sister" set to premiere 2010. Loni's first love is performing for live audiences. She puts it quite simply "I love to make people laugh!"
Patty Loveless Country and western singing star.
Joseph Lowery A leading African American spokesperson, veteran of the civil rights movement and former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Brad Lowery Brad Lowery has long been a favorite at Colleges and Universities across the country. He averages over 200 College performances per year and was nominated for Comedian of the Year 4 times in a row. He's been seen on A & E 's Caroline's Comedy Hour, Star Search and twice on NBC's Showtime at the Apollo. He's opened for acts such as Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Tommy Davidson. This past year he's been doing the audience warm up for The Queen Latifah Show on Fox and can be seen on the Fox Television special entitled Comedy Flava which first aired in November. Brad currently resides in the New York City area and has a black belt in karate. Lowery also has opened for comedians Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, and Tommy Davidson.
Leil Lowndes Internationally acclaimed relationship expert, communications consultant and motivational speaker, Leil Lowndes is the author of the best-selling books How to Talk to Anybody About Anything; and How to Make Anyone Fall in Love With You.
Chris Lowney Chris Lowney, formerly a Jesuit, was named a Managing Director of J.P. Morgan & Co. while still in his thirties and held senior positions in New York, Tokyo, Singapore and London. He served on Morgan's Asia-Pacific, European and Investment Banking Management Committees, accumulating a wealth of multinational experience at a company regularly ranked one of "America's Most Admired Companies" by Fortune magazine. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Lowney was a Jesuit seminarian for seven years. During that time, he taught and studied at Jesuit institutions in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University, where he also received his M.A. and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is holder of honorary Doctoral degrees from Marymount Manhattan University and from the University of Great Falls. Lowney serves on the Board of Directors of Nativity Middle School and on the Board of Regents of St. Peter's College. He lives in New York, where he serves part-time as Special Assistant to the President of the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), the leading U.S.-based Catholic charity providing health care programs and services to people in need around the world. He has travelled to Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and India to help launch CMMB's major initiatives targeted at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. At least twenty percent of Lowney's royalties from the U.S. editions of his works are donated to charities providing education and health care to impoverished children in the developing world. Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World was the #1 ranked bestseller of the CBPA and was named a finalist for a 2003 Book of the Year Award from ForeWord magazine. Now available in paperback after four hardcover printings, it has already been translated into more than a half-dozen foreign languages. A Vanished World, recently published by Free Press/Simon & Schuster, has been awarded a starred review by Publishers Weekly. Mr. Lowney is a popular speaker on topics as varied as leadership, business ethics, and inter-religious dialogue, with engagements in some two-dozen U.S. cities and in non-U.S. locations as diverse as the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, Colombia, and Spain.
Angelo Lozada Popular Hispanic comedian and actor who has appeared at such famous comedy clubs as Caroline's, The Comedy Cellar and The Comic Strip.
John Lucas Former NBA head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, John Lucas is an expert on drug and alcohol rehabilitation. A motivational and inspiring speaker, Lucas also lectures on drug and alcohol abuse.
Susan Lucci Well known soap opera star and television personality.
Felipe Luciano Award winning Hispanic broadcast journalist, news correspondent and television producer.
Bob Lujano "Murderball" is a documentary about tough, highly competitive quadraplegic rugby players and their journey to the Paralympics in Greece. Bob Lujano received his Bachelor's degree in History and Pre-Law at UT Arlington. He is currently training for the US Quadraplegic Rugby National team to attend the World Championships of Rugby in New Zealand.
Joan Lunden ABC News Correspondent and former co-anchor of "Good Morning America."
Vern Lundquist NFL, NCAA basketball and golf announcer for CBS Sports.
Chief Ronnie Lupe Charismatic chief and tribal chairman of the Apache Tribe.
Mike Lupica Currently a regular columnist for Travel + Leisure Golf, Lupica's journalistic accomplishments are as numerous as they are diverse. He began covering sports at BC as a staff writer for The Heights. After graduating from BC, Lupica went on to write for Esquire magazine, Golf Digest, Parade, ESPN the Magazine, and Men's Journal, receiving numerous awards, including the Jim Murray Award in 2003 from the National Football Foundation. He has since written 16 books, including co-written biographies with Reggie Jackson and Bill Parcels, as well as a plethora of children's books and novels.
Patti LuPone Broadway musical star and actress.
Steven Lutvak Steven Lutvak had a remarkable 2006. In one week of April alone, Steven and his principal collaborator, Robert Freedman, won the Kleban Award, the premiere prize for lyric writing in Musical Theater; their musical KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS was presented as part of the Breaking Ground Series at the Huntington Theater in Boston; KIND HEARTS was invited to be the only musical developed at the Sundance Theater Lab; and Steven received a rave review in the New York Times for his cabaret act of his own songs. In January, their musical, CAMPAIGN OF THE CENTURY, won the California Musical Theater Competition from the Beverly Hills Theater Guild. MAD HOT BALLROOM, the film for which Steven wrote the title song, became the 9th most successful documentary of all time. July marked the debut of Shoulder to Shoulder, a new song commissioned for the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games in Chicago, which was sung by Billy Porter, and a 250-voice choir. In November, Steven and Robert won the Second Annual Fred Ebb Award for Songwriting for the Theater. And with the release of CLASSIC AMERICAN POPULAR SONG, a follow-up to Alec Wilder’s classic book, AMERICAN POPULAR SONG, by David Jenness and Don Velsey (Taylor & Francis, publishers, 2006), where several of his songs are discussed at some length, Steven Lutvak’s place in the American Popular Songbook is even more firmly planted.
Peter Lynch America’s number one money manager and author of the best-selling books, One Up On Wall Street and Beating the Street.
Stephen Lynch Whether he's singing an ode to an ailing grandfather (and the inheritance that his death will bring), breaking up with a girlfriend because of her racial make-up (she's just "too white"), or opening the door to his mind to let the voices inside his head sing out, Lynch is a self-proclaimed "musician trapped in the body of a comedian." His unique blend of musical based comedy has earned him fiercely loyal fans around the world who live to experience his sold-out live shows, three best-selling CDs and DVDs, and his top-rated Comedy Central Specials. Raised in Saginaw, Michigan, Stephen is the son of a former nun and priest. He admits to actively entertaining friends and family since he was a child. True to form, Stephen graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.A. in Drama, and found his talent as a comedic songwriter. Stephen moved to New York in 1996, with the goal of becoming a performer. While temping during the day, Stephen wrote songs and performed at clubs and underground music venues around Manhattan at night. He quickly developed a devoted fan base and became a regular on the wildly popular "Opie & Anthony" radio show. The radio exposure, matched with Stephen's live shows and rabid following, turned the heads of the Comedy Central Network, which invited Stephen to record his 1st special in 2000. That special became one of their highest rated performances, almost unheard of for an unknown.
Marjorie Lynn Johnson Founder of the international organization, the Stay-At-Home-Mothers (S.A.H.M.) Motherhood Network. She speaks to groups throughout the U.S. and abroad about reaching fulfillment both as a mother and as a woman through exercising good decision making, maintaining a healthy self-esteem, establishing a solid game plan, possessing a winning attitude and asserting a positive outlook.
Steve Lyons Baseball analyst for Fox Sports, and former Chicago White Sox baseball player.
Kim Lyons Kim Lyons exemplifies fitness. She has been physically active her whole life and continues to excel in motivating others and achieving her goals in the fitness arena. Armed with a staunchly positive attitude and a winning smile, Lyons finds ways to make fitness fun and achievable for even the grumpiest of clients. As a child, Lyons relied on her vibrant personality to make new friends. As the daughter of an Air Force fighter pilot, her family moved every two or three years. Her natural ability to entertain others became an invaluable tool to adjusting to new locations and schools. Lyons was also a zealous and competitive athlete, running track, playing softball and cheerleading while remaining active in several drama and acting groups. Lyons attended Colorado State University, where she graduated with a degree in human development and nutrition in 1995. Shortly after graduating, she took a more serious approach to weight training and taught aerobic classes while pursuing her career path as a commercial pilot. She also graduated from the National Academy of Sports Medicine for personal training and earned several nationally recognized nutrition certifications. Lyons segued into fitness competitions and quickly won national and international titles. In 2002, she eared her IFBB Pro card, marking her place as one of the top fitness competitors in the world. While preparing for one such competition, Lyons severely tore her Achilles tendon, resulting in donor replacement surgery. During her seven-month recovery, she became an accomplished writer and fitness expert featured widely in such magazines as Oxygen, and Muscle and Fitness, and SELF. She has also become one of the industry's most photographed models and has appeared on more than 30 covers worldwide, and in twice as many interior stories to boot. Lyons has moved to Hermosa Beach to pursue her passion as a full-time fitness professional. She continues to compete on the IFBB Pro circuit while hosting and making appearances at amateur competitions, nutrition stores, and fitness expos to inspire and educate upcoming athletes. When she is not traveling or training, Kim enjoys cooking, studying interior design, and participating in adventure sports.
MC Lyte Renowned hip-hop artist and actress MC Lyte is a legendary rap artist. MC Lyte is the first rap artist ever to perform at Carnegie Hall and the first female rapper to ever receive a gold single, which sold over 500 thousand copies. MC Lyte's inspiring 1993 anthem, the classic Ruffneck was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Single, making MC Lyte the first female solo rapper ever nominated for a Grammy. Her newest project Undaground Heat vol.1, Hosted by Jamie Foxx, has garnered this rap legend her 2nd Career Grammy nomination, 10 years later, for Best Solo Female Rap Performance, for her single "Ride Wit Me", produced by MAAD PHUNK!, on her own label SGI/CMM/BMG. Lyte was also a familiar face in film and television. Her film career included roles in the recent Playa's Ball and in a Trimark/Lions Gate feature release Civil Brand. Lyte has also landed roles in feature films including Extreme Pictures' Train Ride, Cinergi Pictures' Burn Hollywood Burn, Warner Brothers' Fly By Night, and the independent features, Luv Tails and Short Handed.