Garry Trudeau—Wed.,
Oct. 7, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Garry Trudeau created the cartoon Doonesbury (in 1970), now syndicated to almost 1,400 newspapers worldwide. In 1975, he became the first comic strip artist to win a Pulitzer at the time, since it is traditionally awarded to editorial-page cartoonists. He was also a Pulitzer finalist in 1990. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1977 in the category of Animated Short Film. Trudeau has been called “far and away the most influential editorial cartoonist of our time.” He is married to the former broadcaster Jane Pauley and maintains a low personal profile.
Paul Krugman is an American economist, columnist, author and intellectual. He is a professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton University, a centenary professor at the London School of Economics, and an op-ed columnist for The New York Times. In 2008, Krugman won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences “for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity.” Krugman is well-known in academia for his work in international economics, including trade theory, economic geography and international finance. His most recent books are The Return of Depression Economics and The Conscience of a Liberal.
Anna Deavere Smith is a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-nominated American actress, playwright, and professor. Smith is best known for her “documentary theatre” style in plays such as Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Los Angeles 1992. She has appeared in several films, including Philadelphia and The American President, and had recurring roles on television’s The West Wing and The Practice. Smith is tenured in the Department of Performance Studies at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She was one of the 1996 recipients of the MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the “genius grant.”
David Gregory has been moderator of NBC News’ Sunday morning talk show Meet the Press—the longest- running program on television—since December 2008. He joined NBC News in 1995 and served as White House correspondent during the presidency of George W. Bush. Gregory covered presidential campaigns in 2000, 2004 and 2008. In 2005, he shared an Emmy Award with his colleagues for coverage of President Reagan’s death. One of the “new wave” of leading broadcast journalists, Gregory is 39 years old this year. His children attend Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.
Yo-Yo Ma is one of the most revered cello players of the 20th and 21st Centuries. He is also a highly accomplished musician on the piano, viola and violin. His discography of over 75 albums (including 15 Grammy Award winners) reflects his wide-ranging interests, and he remains one of the best-selling recording artists in the classical field. Ma is strongly committed to educational programs that not only bring young audiences into contact with music but also allow them to participate in its creation. In 2006, Secretary General Kofi Annan named him a U.N. Messenger of Peace.
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