Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series
The Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series is an integral part of Elon University School of Law's commitment to develop lawyers who are also leaders. Endowed through a generous gift from the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greensboro, N.C., the Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series brings accomplished leaders from a variety of disciplines to Elon to share their experiences and perspectives with students and faculty.
Anthony Fox
Mayor, Charlotte, N.C.
November 13, 2012
“The same system of laws that made it possible for my great-great grandmother to be sold into slavery later made it possible for me to gain a strong education and five generations later to be the mayor of the largest city in North Carolina. As a profession, we cannot take that legacy for granted. I wish for you that you will accept not only the privilege of being a lawyer but the responsibility to help our nation and world grapple with the challenges of the moment.”
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Video files
- Foxx on the marketability of lawyers
- Foxx illustrates "determination" through effort to host Democratic National Convention in Charlotte
- Foxx discusses the moment when he decided to run for Mayor
Scott Turow
Acclaimed writer and attorney
October 13, 2010
"[Americans] see positive potential in the law and they see in the law something that the market does not give them. I think the reason people are interested in the law has to do with the pivotal role it plays in society in determining questions of value."
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Video files
- Turow explains why Americans have a new found interest in the law
- Turow on why many people think lawyers are 'evil
- Turow discusses the rise of the legal thriller
Nina Totenberg
National Public Radio legal affairs correspondent
March 16, 2010
"Republicans are stalling on [judicial] nominees whether they are controversial or not... And the Democrats haven’t pushed it...and the people who are paying the price for this are litigants and the judicial system. For all the judges I know of both parties, the behavior of both parties in this is frankly confounding."
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Video files
- Totenberg on President Obama's slow approach to nominating judges
- Totenberg analyzes the new Supreme Court era
- Totenberg discusses the concept of judicial activism
Harold Ford, Jr.
Chairman, Democratic Leadership Council, and Member of Congress, 1997-2007
November 5, 2009
“The willingness to recognize when you’re right, and the courage to say when you’re wrong and correct it, in so many ways that’s the true test of leadership. If there was ever a time in which the kind of leadership that has defined America’s greatness since our inception was needed, that time is now.” Read the story
Video files
- Harold Ford talks about results of the Nov. 3 elections
- Harold Ford discusses strategy for Afghanistan
Cory Booker
Mayor, Newark, N.J.
February 3, 2009
“Will we take ownership of our nation? Will we not look for blame but accept responsibility? This is our challenge - this is the test of this fledgling democracy still in its youth. Can it be bold enough, rich enough and inclusive enough to fulfill the dreams of our ancestors?”
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Video files
David McCullough
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian
October 22, 2008
"You can't just be an idle spectator... you can't just sit back and watch."
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Video files
- McCullough offers advice to the next president
- McCullough on the economic challenges facing our society
- McCullough on the importance of leadership education
- McCullough puts current challenges into historical perspective
Jeffrey Toobin
CNN legal analyst, journalist, author
September 22, 2008
"What was it that changed about the Court after 2000? Justice O'Connor changed. She moved to the left because she saw that George W. Bush, the president that she put in office with her vote in Bush v. Gore, was not the kind of president she thought he was going to be."
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Video files
- Toobin on evolution of the Supreme Court after 2000
- Toobin on Election 2008 prospects
- Toobin on potential conflict between Obama, Supreme Court
Jim Hunt
North Carolina Governor
1977-1985, 1993-2001
April 29, 2008
"Leadership is about moving ahead and improving other people's lives."
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Video files
Jim Melvin
Bryan Foundation President
Former Mayor of Greensboro
March 7, 2008
"If you have a good idea, people want to be part of something exciting. They want to make a difference."
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Video files
- Melvin discusses the need for strong communities in America
- Melvin on the impact of Elon Law on downtown Greensboro and beyond
- Melvin talks about the role passion and attitude play in accomplishing goals
Bonnie McElveen-Hunter
Former United States Ambassador
to Finland
February 20, 2008
"An organization's success, or lack thereof, has everything to do with leadership. Leadership filters down a lot faster than it filters up."
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Video files
- McElveen-Hunter discusses the qualities of good leadership
- McElveen-Hunter on enhancing America's global image
- McElveen-Hunter on how history will judge President George W. Bush
Aldona Wos
Former United States Ambassador
to Estonia
November 5, 2007
"You have to be driven in a direction of seeking excellence and driven in a direction of helping other people."
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Video files
- Wos on the importance of travel
- Wos on the challenge of balancing career and family
- Wos on the importance of public service
Henry E. Frye
Former Chief Justice,
N.C. Supreme Court
October 8, 2007
"You've got to tell the truth. If you're going to lead, you've got to be worthy of leadership. You've got to be a person of your word."
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Video files
- Frye on the attributes of good lawyers
- Frye's advice to young lawyers
- Frye's thoughts on improving the American system of government
David R. Gergen
Presidential adviser, scholar, author
September 27, 2007
"More and more people are beginning to understand that leadership is not a top-down kind of ‘do this, do this, do this.’ Leadership today is much more about drawing the best out of people who are in your group.”
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Video files
