Cory Booker

After graduating from Yale Law School, U.S. Senator Cory Booker moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he provided free legal services for low-income families. In 1998, at age 29, Booker was elected to the Newark City Council, during which time he advocated for improved economic security for city residents, access to healthcare and public safety. He served as mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013 and, under his leadership, the city saw significant economic growth, more affordable housing for city residents and increased educational opportunities. 

Since being elected to the U.S. Senate for the state of New Jersey in 2013, Booker continues to provide a passionate voice for underrepresented Americans and is a social justice advocate for issues facing New Jersey and the U.S. He has led efforts for social justice reform and economic policy that increases opportunity and wages, and addresses corporate practices that keep wages down, among many other significant achievements. 

Booker is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; the Foreign Relations Committee; the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and the Small Business Committee.

Tamron Hall

Tamron Hall, event emcee and Lew Klein College of Media and Communication graduate, is a two-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, journalist, author and philanthropist. She is the host and executive producer of the Emmy-nominated daytime television show Tamron Hall Show. For her work on the show’s first season, Hall won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host. Also in its first season, the show was awarded the prestigious Gracie Award, which recognizes exemplary programming created by women.

In fall 2021, Hall released her first novel, and in 2022, she partnered with CourtTV to host an original true-crime series, Someone They Knew With Tamron Hall, which tells stories from the point of view of the people impacted by the case. Most recently, Hall’s work earned her a second Gracie Award for On-air Talent in National Entertainment TV in 2022, as well as her second Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.

Hall was the first African American female co-host of TODAY and served as the anchor for MSNBC Live with Tamron Hall. She received the 2015 Edward R. Murrow Award for her TODAY segment on domestic violence.

Since 2015, she has served as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees and in 2014, she received the Lew Klein Alumni in Media award.