e Learning Society A Conversation with WALTER ISAACSON World-renowned historian and bestselling author of The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race A Conversation with Walter Isaacson Tuesday, April 27, 2021 Welcome Daniel G. Lugo President, Queens University of Charlotte Speaker Introduction Emily Sears ’21 Wells Fago Center for Community Engagement Fellow Guest Speaker Walter Isaacson World-renowned historian and bestselling author Moderator Gene Woods President and CEO, Atrium Health Participating Students Irene Kuriakose ’21 Biology and Spanish Dax McGee ’21 Biology Jacqueline Kincaid ’21 Health Science and Chinese Morgan Faircloth ’22 Human Service Studies Closing Remarks Daniel G. Lugo President, Queens University of Charlotte Presented to the Community by: Wells Fargo Center for Community Engagement WALTER ISAACSON World-renowned historian and bestselling author Walter Isaacson is a Professor of History at Tulane and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, a financial services firm based in New York City. He is the past CEO of the Aspen Institute, where he is now a Distinguished Fellow, and has been the chairman of CNN and the editor of TIME magazine. Isaacson’s most recent biography, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race (2021) offers a gripping account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies. He is also the author ofLeonardo da Vinci (2017), The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution (2014), Steve Jobs (2011), Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007), Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003), and Kissinger: A Biography (1992), and coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made (1986). He is a host of the show “Amanpour and Company” on PBS and CNN, a contributor to CNBC, and host of the podcast “Trailblazers, from Dell Technologies.” Isaacson is a graduate of Harvard College and of Pembroke College of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He began his career at The Sunday Times of London and then the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He joined TIME in 1978 and served as a political correspondent, national editor, and editor of digital media before becoming the magazine’s 14th editor in 1996. He became chairman and CEO of CNN in 2001, and then president and CEO of the Aspen Institute in 2003. He is chair emeritus of Teach for America. From 2005-2007 he was the vice-chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which oversaw the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and other international broadcasts of the United States, a position he held from 2009 to 2012. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of the Arts, and the American Philosophical Society. He serves on the board of United Airlines, the New Orleans City Planning Commission, the New Orleans Tricentennial Commission, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Society of American Historians, the U.S. Defense Department Innovation Board, the Carnegie Institution for Science, and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. GENE WOODS President and Chief Executive Officer, Atrium Health Gene Woods, MBA, MHA, FACHE, is president and chief executive officer of Atrium Health, a nationally leading, non-profit health system with more than 70,000 teammates serving patients at 42 hospitals and over 1,500 care locations across four states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. It also includes Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, Georgia. Woods joined Atrium Health in April 2016 and, during his tenure, Atrium Health also has been recognized as one of the Best Employers for Diversity, for new grads and for Women by Forbes; number one on the list of Best Places to Work for Women & Diverse Managers by DiversityMBA; one of the 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Healthcare; and the number one military-friendly employer in the country. In addition, the organization has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Leapfrog Group and the American Nurses Credentialing Center as among the very best in the nation and was honored by the American Hospital Association with the Equity of Care Award and one of the first-ever Quest for Quality honors for its Rehabilitation Hospital. Most recently, Atrium Health was recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a 2020 CMS Health Equity Award recipient for its dedication to health equity by reducing disparities and enabling communities to achieve the highest level of health. Since 1988, The Learning Society has brought leading thinkers and doers to our doorstep. Renowned authors, journalists, physicians, scientists, artists, economists, politicians, government leaders, scholars, historians, entrepreneurs, business executives, environmentalists and social activists – these and more have shared their knowledge and life experience with Queens students and the greater Charlotte community. Thanks to our members’ commitment and generosity, The Learning Society has thrived for three decades, broadening our worldview through face-to-face, unfiltered dialogue with diverse, compelling – and sometimes provocative – speakers. The Learning Society program is intentionally designed for the visiting guest speaker to spend as much time conversing with students as presenting at the evening community lecture. The on-campus student discussion before the public program has become a signature student experience at Queens. Students gathered virtually earlier for the opportunity to ask questions of Walter Isaacson during the student-led discussion. At Queens, learning never stops at the classroom door. For more information on joining or sponsoring, email [email protected]. Thank you to the following organizations for supporting Queens and this evening’s community lecture. Presented to the Community by: Wells Fargo Center for Community Engagement Platinum Sponsor Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors The Broyhill Family Foundation, Inc. Foundation for the Carolinas The Charlotte Observer Sharon Towers WFAE 90.7 FM 2020-2021 Learning Society Members EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Patricia L. Blackburn Heide and Oscar Groomes – Chair Betsy and Bill Blue Jeanie and Tom Cottingham – Immediate Wendi and Dave Boddy Past Chair Jennifer L. Boone Jennifer DeWitt – Vice Chair Gay Boswell Daniele Donahoe Mary and Charles Bowman Kelly Katterhagen and Larry Nabatoff Betsy and Alfred Brand Juli Marley and Mark Clarke Sally Gambrell Bridgford and Brian Arrington and Burch Mixon Bridgford Sonja and Richard Nichols Kathie and Terry Broderick Anne and Scott Perper Sara and Jeff Brown Karen and Brandon Perry Frannie and Herb Browne Susan and Bob Salvin Karen and Paul Broyhill Jennifer and Eric Steigerwalt Vicki and Peter Brunnick Amy Bryan and Eric Plott ACTIVE FOUNDING MEMBERS Madelyn and Kevin Caple Jean Batten Jamie and Stuart Christhilf Georgia and Bill Belk Sallie and Derick Close Anne Marie Black Jean and Gene Cochrane Doris and Charlie Fonville Amy and Philip Colaco Bill Gorelick Titi and Wale Cole Peggy and Jim Hynes Meredith and Stephen Collie Sandra and Leon Levine Katie and Lee Cornwell Esten Mason Darlene and Glyn Cowlishaw Jane and Hugh McColl Gail and Ira Cox Carolyn and Sam McMahon Jane and Tom Coyle Dale and Larry Polsky Pat and Dick Crull Clyda and George Rent Pamela and Bob Davies Mattye and Marc Silverman Caroline and Ben Dellinger Gail Brinn Wilkins and Howard Freese Jennifer DeWitt Daniele Donahoe PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE MEMBERS Elyn and Mike Dortch Kim and Johnny Belk Jay Everette and Brian Speas Sarah and Tim Belk Linda and Bill Farthing Jan and Ed Brown Betsy Fleming and Ed Weisiger Jeanie and Tom Cottingham Amy and Sid Fletcher Mary and Rob Engel Dorlisa and Peter Flur Joy Greene Liz and Louis Foreman Heide and Oscar Groomes Pamela Freeman Dale Halton and Fred Wagner Libba and Mike Gaither Kelly Katterhagen and Larry Nabatoff Mary and Sean Gallivan Barbara Laughlin Sarah Gambrell Juli Marley and Mark Clarke Jenifer and Tim Gelorme Kaye and Dennis McGarry Selena and Rick Giovannelli Anne and Scott Perper Daphne and Eric Solomon Pat Rodgers Stacy and Todd Gorelick M.A. Rogers Ann Brookshire and Joe Grier Susan and Herb Spaugh Brooke and Clayton Grindle Joan Zimmerman Suzy and Steve Hannon Lucy and Hooper Hardison MEMBERS Christie and Jon Hunt Leslie Aronovitz and Ted Gearhart Courtney and Bill Hyder Holly and Jeff Atkins Peggy and Jim Hynes Debbie and Sadler Barnhardt Linda and Paul Ibsen Anne and John Barry Gibbs and Bryan Ives Jean Batten Katie and Mike James Georgia and Bill Belk Greg Johns Anne Marie Black Ginger and Jim Kelly Bess and Kent Kercher Sally and Downie Saussy Kathryn and Luke Kissam Judy and Chip Wallach Kristen and Mark Kral Harriet Seabrook Jacqueline Zinn and John Lesher Michele and Roger Shaul Sandra and Leon Levine Carolyn Shaw and Mary Bobis Siu Challons-Lipton and Jordan Lipton Mattye and Marc Silverman Deborah Majewski and Daniel Ward Caroline and Bob Sink Esten Mason Kati and Chris Small Ashley and Scott Mattei Indun Patrick and Wayne Smith Peggy and Neill McBryde Jennifer and Eric Steigerwalt Jane and Hugh McColl