Food for Thought
Ice cream entrepreneurs Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield highlight Maverick Speakers Series
The fourth season of UT Arlington’s marquee lectures, the Maverick Speakers Series, continues in November with the men behind one of the most talked about and least conventional success stories in American business.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, will speak Nov. 17 about how they built a storefront venture into a $300 million ice cream empire by harnessing the power of social responsibility and creative management.
Dallas Cowboys legend and NFL Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith (see p. 7) kicked off the 2011-12 series in October by discussing “A Championship Vision.” Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, is the majority partner and co-chairman of ESmith Legacy, a Dallas-based commercial real estate company.
The spring 2012 semester will showcase CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien on “Diversity in America,” oceanographer Robert Ballard on “Adventures in Deep Sea Exploration,” and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on “Achieving Excellence in Education.”
Since joining CNN in 2003, O’Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe and produced critically acclaimed documentaries on some of the world’s most compelling topics, including education, diversity, the Royal Wedding, economics, and natural disasters.
A deep sea explorer, Ballard has made startling discoveries in recent years, including finding the wreckage of the Titanic in 1985. He has led or participated in more than 65 underwater expeditions, written 16 books, and is the pioneer of the JASON Project, which enables schoolchildren to explore the oceans virtually.
Bush closes the season with the first lecture in the new 7,000-seat College Park Center. He is the son of President George H.W. Bush and brother of President George W. Bush. In his two terms as Florida governor (1998–2007), Jeb Bush worked to improve Florida’s education system, protect its environment, and boost its economy. An advocate for charter schools, vouchers, and standardized testing, he heads the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which he started in 2007.
New this year for any Maverick Speakers Series lecture is a Premium Seating package featuring a front-of-house seat, reserved parking near the venue, and front-of-line access to book signings (participating speakers only). Premium Seating packages are $25 and available at utatickets.com. As in the past, free general admission tickets also may be obtained at the website.
Upcoming Maverick Speakers Series Lectures
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, ice cream entrepreneurs
Nov. 17, 2011 – 7:30 p.m., Texas Hall
Soledad O’Brien, CNN anchor
Feb. 7, 2012 – 7:30 p.m., Texas Hall
Robert Ballard, deep sea explorer
March 6, 2012 – 7:30 p.m., Texas Hall
Jeb Bush, former Florida governor
March 23, 2012 – 7:30 p.m., College Park Center
