The Most Inspiring Speakers for Students
From K-12 assemblies to college keynotes and university convocations, find the voice that moves your audience to think bigger, act bolder, and lead with purpose.
Why Campus Programming Matters
The right speaker can change the trajectory of a student's life.
Diverse rosters across every topic. K-12, college & university experience. Women-owned, independent agency. No hidden fees. Honest pricing.
Student affairs directors, campus programming boards, and K-12 administrators know that great speakers do more than fill an auditorium — they spark identity, ignite ambition, and open conversations that last long after the event. Outspoken Agency specializes in connecting schools and campuses with speakers who actually connect with young audiences.
Whether you're planning a fall convocation, a mental health awareness week, a STEM symposium, or a social justice speaker series, we'll help you find the right voice for your students, your values, and your budget. Explore our top picks below — curated specifically for colleges, universities, and K-12 audiences.
Ruha Benjamin
PRINCETON PROFESSOR & AWARD-WINNING SCHOLAR
Tech & AI ★ Social Justice ★ University
A 2024 MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Fellow and Princeton professor of African American Studies, Ruha Benjamin is one of the most urgent voices on race, technology, and power. Author of Race After Technology and Imagination: A Manifesto, she challenges university audiences to examine who builds our digital world — and who gets left out of it. Essential for tech programs, social justice series, and convocations alike.
Gitanjali Rao
INVENTOR & YOUNG INNOVATOR
STEM ★ Innovation ★ K-12 & College
TIME's first-ever "Kid of the Year" and MIT bioengineering student, Gitanjali Rao has invented tools to detect lead in drinking water, diagnose opioid addiction, and combat cyberbullying using AI — all before finishing high school. A UNICEF Youth Advocate and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, she has run STEM innovation workshops inspiring over 150,000 students across 55 countries. One of the most electrifying young speakers available for any campus.
Elizabeth Smart
SURVIVOR, ACTIVIST & AUTHOR
Resilience ★ Safety ★ K-12 & College
One of the most recognized advocates for child safety and survivor empowerment in the country, Elizabeth Smart speaks with raw honesty about resilience, healing, and reclaiming your life. A consistently powerful presence on college and high school campuses.
Cam Awesome
OLYMPIC BOXER & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Resilience ★ Leadership ★ K-12 & College
USA Olympic boxer Cam Awesome brings the energy of the ring to campus audiences. He speaks candidly about mental health in athletics, overcoming adversity, and what it takes to rise after failure — themes that hit home for student-athletes and general audiences alike.
Kimberly Bryant
FOUNDER, BLACK GIRLS CODE
STEM ★ DEIB ★ Entrepreneurship
Kimberly Bryant founded Black Girls CODE to introduce girls of color to the transformative world of technology. As a speaker on university campuses, she challenges students to dismantle systemic barriers in tech and reimagine who gets to build the future.
Jon Dorenbos
NFL LONG SNAPPER, MAGICIAN & SURVIVOR
Resilience ★ Mental Health ★ College
Jon Dorenbos's story is almost impossible to believe — he overcame childhood tragedy, played 14 seasons in the NFL, became a world-class magician, and survived open-heart surgery. On campus, his message of radical optimism and healing makes crowds laugh, cry, and stand on their feet.
José Vilson
MATH TEACHER, AUTHOR, EDUCATOR-ACTIVIST
Education ★ Social Justice ★ K-12
José Vilson is a beloved math educator and activist whose work sits at the intersection of education reform and racial justice. A compelling voice at teacher conferences and student assemblies alike, he challenges both educators and students to see classrooms as sites of liberation.
Caroline Maguire
SEL EXPERT, ADHD COACH, AUTHOR
Mental Health ★ Neurodiversity ★ K-12 & College
Drawing on her own childhood experience with ADHD and dyslexia, Caroline Maguire gives students, educators, and campus professionals practical tools for building connection, navigating social anxiety, and creating genuinely inclusive communities. One of the most relevant voices in education today.
Mariana Atencio
EMMY AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST & AUTHOR
DEIB ★ Resilience ★ College
Emmy-winning journalist and author of Perfectly You, Mariana Atencio inspires college students to embrace their full, complex identities. Her talks on immigration, belonging, and authenticity are especially resonant on multicultural campuses and at diversity-focused events.
Brandeis Marshall
DATA SCIENTIST & TECH EQUITY ADVOCATE
Tech & AI ★ DEIB ★ University
Dr. Brandeis Marshall asks the questions Silicon Valley won't: who controls the data? Whose stories get told by algorithms? She brings a rigorous, urgent voice to campus conversations about AI ethics, data equity, and the role young technologists must play in shaping a just digital future.
Paula Stone Williams
LGBTQ ADVOCATE & PASTOR
LGBTQ+ ★ DEIB ★ University
One of the most sought-after LGBTQ+ speakers in the country, Paula Stone Williams brings extraordinary grace, humor, and depth to conversations about gender identity, faith, and belonging. Her TED Talk has reached millions, and her presence on campus sparks exactly the dialogue students need.
Molly Kawahata
THE HOPE WHISPERER & DOCUMENTARY STAR
Climate & Hope ★ Mental Health ★ College
A former Climate Advisor to the Obama White House and subject of Patagonia's viral film The Scale of Hope (1M+ views, now in MoMA's permanent collection), Molly Kawahata is known as "the hope whisperer." She weaves together climate action, the neuroscience of hope, and her own journey with Bipolar 2 Disorder to give students research-backed tools for resilience, purpose, and systemic change. A standout choice for climate weeks, mental health programming, and leadership summits.
Marisa G. Franco
PSYCHOLOGIST, AUTHOR & FRIENDSHIP EXPERT
Belonging ★ Mental Health ★ College
Dr. Marisa G. Franco is a psychologist and NYT bestselling author of Platonic who studies the science of friendship, connection, and belonging. At a moment when student loneliness is at a generational high, her research-backed talks on building genuine relationships and community are some of the most needed conversations happening on college campuses today.
Programming for every level of education
We work with student affairs offices, programming boards, university presidents, high school counselors, and district administrators to build speaker experiences tailored to your specific audience.
K-12 Schools
Assembly programs, counselor events, graduation speakers, and anti-bullying campaigns. Age-appropriate speakers with proven track records with young audiences.
Student Organizations
Greek life, multicultural centers, student government, honor societies, and affinity groups. Speakers who can anchor a semester series or headline a single signature event.
Colleges & Universities
Convocations, commencements, orientation week, mental health campaigns, cultural celebrations, and leadership conferences. We know campus programming inside and out.
STEM & Academic Programs
Hackathons, science fairs, computer science departments, pre-med programs, and innovation labs. We represent scientists, engineers, and technologists who speak to students' futures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What event planners & student affairs teams ask us most
What are the best speakers for college campuses right now?
The most in-demand campus speakers are those who address the issues students are actually living: mental health and burnout, identity and belonging, career uncertainty, and civic responsibility. Speakers like Elizabeth Smart, Cam Awesome, Paula Stone Williams, and Daryl Davis consistently earn standing ovations because they speak from lived experience — not just expertise.
Do these speakers work for K-12 schools, not just colleges?
Yes — several speakers on our roster are specifically experienced with middle school, high school, and even elementary audiences. Gitanjali Rao and José Vilson are especially powerful for K-12 programming. We'll always ask about your specific grade level when making recommendations so the content is fully age-appropriate.
How do I book a speaker for a university event?
The fastest way is to submit a speaker inquiry form — share your event date, audience size, topic priorities, and budget range. Our team typically responds within one business day. We handle all logistics, contracting, and travel coordination so your team can focus on the event experience itself.
What topics are most popular for student assemblies and campus events?
The highest-demand topics for student audiences right now include mental health and resilience, DEIB and inclusive belonging, STEM and AI ethics, social justice and civic engagement, entrepreneurship and career readiness, and LGBTQ+ identity. Browse our full topic directory to find speakers matched to your specific theme.
Do you offer virtual or hybrid campus speaker options?
Absolutely. Most speakers in our roster are available for virtual keynotes, hybrid events, and pre-recorded content. Virtual programming can significantly expand your budget reach and make it possible to bring in high-profile speakers regardless of your campus location. Ask us about virtual options when you get in touch.
Ready to book a speaker your students will never forget?
Tell us about your event and we'll send you tailored recommendations, usually within one business day.