The Golden Torch Lecture Series is an academically focused speaker series, which attempts to connect students to outstanding individuals who are either experts in their field or working at the forefront of a relevant political or social issue.
The Golden Torch Lecture Series was re-established in Fall 2010 to provide the student body with a series of speakers sponsored by the Student Government Association in collaboration with Union Productions. The mission of the series is to engage students in issues and dialogue that will positively benefit their overall academic, scholastic, or humanitarian experience.
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Upcoming Speakers
Enjoy an night celebrating FSU community members, featuring a performance by the FSU Gospel Choir and Dance Ensemble, and an engaging conversation with our keynote speaker, Ziwe Fumudoh. This opening ceremony to FSU's 37th Annual MLK Week is one you won't want to miss!
Register for this free event at tickets.fsu.edu
About the Keynote Speaker: Ziwe Fumudoh is a Nigerian-American author and comedian known for her satirical commentary on politics and race relations. Fumudoh is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she studied radio, television, film and African American studies. In 2017, Fumudoh created Baited with Ziwe, a show on YouTube that, in her own words, “allows viewers to laugh about race while still acknowledging its complexity.” In October 2020, the first season of Ziwe, Fumudoh's variety show on Showtime, was announced. Its six episodes featured sketches, musical numbers and interviews with celebrity guests including Fran Lebowitz, Bowen Yang, Phoebe Bridgers, Julio Torres, and Stacey Abrams. Most recently, in October of 2023, Ziwe published her New York Times bestseller collection of essays, Black Friend. Throughout the collection, Ziwe mixes big-picture concepts with pop-culture commentary while sharing her own personal life story.
Past Speakers
Julio Torres
October 7, 2024
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Hayley Kiyoko
March 5, 2024
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Da'Vinchi and Sara Sidner
January 16, 2024
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Darren Criss
October 13, 2023
Student Union Ballrooms
Pauline Chalamet
April 11, 2023
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Benjamin Crump
January 17, 2023
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Tarana Burke
November 8, 2022
Union Ballrooms
Anthony Ray Hinton
February 28, 2022
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
DeRay McKesson
January 18, 2022
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
KeKe Palmer
January 12, 2022
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Karamo Brown
January 21, 2020
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Brandon Stanton
September 12, 2019
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Griffin McElroy
March 5, 2019
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Charles Blow
January 22, 2019
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Steve Murphy and Javier Peña
September 25, 2018
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Angela Davis
January 16, 2018
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Roxane Gay
March 6, 2018
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Dr. Michio Kaku
March 27, 2018
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Philip Glass
March 28, 2017
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Barry Jenkins
March 31, 2017
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill
January 17, 2017
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Jelani Cobb
January 19, 2016
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
James Franco
April 14, 2016
Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
Danny Glover and Felix Justice
January 20, 2015
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Arianna Huffington
February 24, 2015
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Common
September 29, 2015
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Somaly Mam
January 21, 2014
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Ron Paul
October 2, 2014
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Bill Nye
September 16, 2014
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Melissa Harris-Perry
February 24, 2014
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
November 5, 2013
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Warrick Dunn
September 17, 2013
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
John Legend
January 22, 2013
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Gen. Wesley Clark
November 7, 2012
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Jonathan Haidt
September 11, 2012
Student Life Cinema
Rebecca Skloot
August 28, 2011
Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center
Spike Lee
September 8, 2011
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Elie Wiesel
October 4, 2011
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall