Monica Gandhi MD, MPH is Professor of Medicine and Associate Division Chief (Clinical Operations/ Education) of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at UCSF/ San Francisco General Hospital. She also serves as the medical director of the HIV Clinic at SFGH ("Ward 86").. Dr. Gandhi completed her M.D. at Harvard Medical School and then came to UCSF in 1996 for residency training in Internal Medicine. After her residency, Dr. Gandhi completed a fellowship in Infectious Diseases and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, both at UCSF. She also obtained a Masters in Public Health from Berkeley in 2001 with a focus on Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Dr. Gandhi's current research program is on identifying low-cost solutions to measuring antiretroviral levels in resource-poor settings, such as determining drug levels in hair samples. Dr. Gandhi also works on pre-exposure prophylaxis and treatment strategies for HIV infection in women. .

Dr. Gandhi also has an interest at UCSF in HIV education and mentorship. Dr. Gandhi co-directed the "Communicable Diseases of Global Health Importance" course in the Global Health Sciences Masters program from 2008-2015, and serves as the overall Education Director of the HIV, ID and Global Medicine Division. She also served as the principal investigator of an R24 mentoring grant from the NIH focused on nurturing early career investigators of diversity in HIV research, is the co-Director for the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Mentoring Program, and is the Chair of the Advisory Board for the UCSF Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH). She directs the HIV/ID Consult Service at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) and attends on the inpatient Infectious Diseases consult service.

Stéphane Bancel is a French business leader and engineer who has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Moderna since 2011. He has helped transform Moderna from a young biotechnology startup into one of the world's most recognized biotechnology companies, focused on using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to develop new medicines.

Born and raised in Marseille, France, Stéphane developed an interest in math, science, and computers at a young age. He studied engineering in France before coming to the United States, where he earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota. He later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Before joining Moderna, Stéphane built his career in the healthcare and biotechnology industries. He held several leadership positions at Eli Lilly and later became CEO of the French diagnostics company bioMérieux. In 2011, he took on the challenge of leading Moderna when the company was still in its very early stages.

Under Stéphane's leadership, Moderna has grown into a global biotechnology company exploring how mRNA technology can be used to create new medicines and address challenging health problems. His work requires bringing together scientists, engineers, physicians, technology experts, and business leaders to turn ambitious scientific ideas into real-world innovations.

Stéphane's journey is an excellent example for students of how science, engineering, technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership can come together in one career. His story also demonstrates the importance of education, curiosity, taking calculated risks, learning from challenges, and being willing to pursue ideas that could change the future.

For students interested in STEM, biotechnology, engineering, medicine, entrepreneurship, technology, or business leadership, Stéphane's career provides a fascinating look at how scientific innovation can move from an idea in a laboratory to something capable of making an impact around the world.

Dr. Grandin did not talk until she was three and a half years old, but she was fortunate to get early speech therapy. Dr. Grandin became a prominent author and speaker on both autism and animal behavior. Today she is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She also has a successful career in consulting on both livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare. She has been featured on NPR (National Public Radio) and a BBC Special – "The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow". She has also appeared on National TV shows such as Larry King Live, 20/20, Sixty Minutes, Fox and Friends, and she has a 2010 TED talk. Articles about Dr. Grandin have appeared in Time Magazine, New York Times, Discover Magazine, Forbes, and USA Today. HBO made an Emmy Award-winning movie about her life and she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016.

Secretary Leon Panetta is one of the most experienced public servants and national security leaders in modern American history, having served the United States across more than five decades and under multiple presidential administrations.

Panetta served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama, leading the Department of Defense and overseeing the U.S. military during a consequential period in American history. Before becoming Secretary of Defense, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and led the agency during the operation that located and killed Osama bin Laden in 2011.

His remarkable career in public service also includes serving as White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and a U.S. Representative from California for 16 years. Earlier in his career, Panetta served in the U.S. Army and worked in Washington on civil rights and public policy.

After leaving government, Panetta continued his commitment to education and public service through the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, which he co-founded with his wife, Sylvia. The institute works to inspire young people to become informed citizens and pursue lives of leadership and public service.

From the halls of Congress and the White House to the CIA and Pentagon, Leon Panetta has spent his career confronting some of the most important decisions facing the United States. His experiences offer students a rare opportunity to learn about leadership, national security, public service, decision-making, and the responsibilities that come with serving others.

Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is one of the world's leading experts on the science of happiness. As a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, she has spent more than 30 years researching what helps people live happier, healthier, and more meaningful lives.

Her groundbreaking research explores how our daily habits, relationships, gratitude, kindness, and positive thinking can improve well-being. Dr. Lyubomirsky has published hundreds of scientific articles, and her work has been featured in major media outlets around the world.

She is the bestselling author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness, books that explain how people can use proven, research-based strategies to increase happiness and resilience. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and have inspired readers across the globe.

Dr. Lyubomirsky has received numerous awards for her contributions to psychology and has shared her research with audiences ranging from students and educators to business leaders and policymakers.

Through her work, Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky encourages students to understand that happiness is not just something that happens to us—it is something we can build through our choices, our actions, and the way we connect with others every day.

Pedro Noguera was appointed dean of the USC Rossier School of Education in July 2020 and is the holder of the Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean’s Chair in Education.

A sociologist, Noguera’s research focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions, as well as by demographic trends in local, regional and global contexts. He is the author, co-author and editor of 13 books. His most recent books are The Crisis of Connection: Roots, Consequences and Solutions with Niobe Way, Carol Gilligan and Alisha Ali (New York University Press, 2018) and Race, Equity and Education: Sixty Years From Brown with Jill Pierce and Roey Ahram (Springer, 2015).

He has published over 250 research articles in academic journals, book chapters in edited volumes, research reports and editorials in major newspapers. He serves on the boards of numerous national and local organizations, including the Economic Policy Institute, the National Equity Project and The Nation. Noguera appears as a regular commentator on educational issues on several national media outlets, and his editorials on educational issues have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Dallas Morning News and Los Angeles Times. 

Prior to being appointed dean of the USC Rossier School of Education, Noguera served as a Distinguished Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Before joining the faculty at UCLA he served as a tenured professor and holder of endowed chairs at New York University (2004–2015), Harvard University (2000–2003) and the University of California, Berkeley (1990–2000). 

Noguera was recently appointed to serve as a special advisor to the governor of New Mexico on education policy. He also advises the state departments of education in Washington, Oregon and Nevada. From 2009–2012 he served as a trustee for the State University of New York as an appointee of the governor. In 2014 he was elected to the National Academy of Education and Phi Delta Kappa honor society, and in 2020 Noguera was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Noguera has received seven honorary doctorates from American universities, and he recently received awards from the Center for the Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, from the National Association of Secondary School Principals and from the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at NYU for his research and advocacy efforts aimed at fighting poverty.

Noguera holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and American history, a master’s degree from Brown University and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Joe Berlinger is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, producer, director, and journalist widely recognized as one of the world's leading documentary storytellers. For more than three decades, he has created groundbreaking films and series that explore true crime, social justice, human rights, and some of history's most compelling real-life stories.

Berlinger first gained international recognition with the landmark documentary Brother's Keeper (1992), which examined the murder trial of an elderly New York farmer and challenged audiences to reconsider assumptions about justice and rural America. He later co-directed the acclaimed Paradise Lost trilogy, documenting the controversial case of the West Memphis Three. The films helped bring international attention to the case and contributed to the eventual release of the three men after spending nearly two decades in prison.

His extensive body of work includes documentaries such as Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Crude, Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger, and Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, one of Netflix's most-watched true crime documentary series. He has also directed numerous investigative documentaries covering environmental issues, corporate accountability, and criminal justice reform.

Throughout his career, Berlinger has earned multiple Emmy Awards, Peabody Awards, and other prestigious honors for his commitment to investigative journalism and documentary filmmaking. His work is celebrated not only for its compelling storytelling but also for its ability to spark meaningful public conversations about justice, ethics, and the human experience.

Today, Joe Berlinger continues to produce impactful documentaries and mentor the next generation of filmmakers, demonstrating how the power of storytelling can educate audiences, challenge perceptions, and inspire change around the world.

Dan Holdridge is an author, motivational speaker, and survivor of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon. On that historic day, Dan experienced one of the most devastating moments in American history firsthand and faced a life-changing situation that tested his courage, strength, and resilience.

Through his powerful story, Dan shares his experience of survival and the lessons he learned from that unforgettable day. His message focuses on the importance of perseverance, gratitude, leadership, and finding purpose even during the most difficult circumstances.

As a speaker and author, Dan has dedicated himself to inspiring others by sharing his journey and encouraging people to overcome challenges, appreciate every moment, and make a positive impact in the lives of those around them.

Join us as Dan Holdridge reflects on his experience at the Pentagon, his journey of survival, and the valuable lessons that September 11, 2001, taught him about courage, hope, and the strength of the human spirit.