Spotlight Speakers

Chancellor Diermeier started his career as a professor at Stanford University, then he was the Dean at the Northwestern School of Business, and then the provost at the University of Chicago. Now, he is the Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. He covered topics including: the role of higher education in society, the role of technology in education, the importance of diverse discussions, what kind of students universities are looking for, and what his plans are for Vanderbilt. 

Shane Battier is a 2-time NBA Champion with the Miami Heat and the founder of the Battier Take Charge Foundation, a non-profit that provides academic and extracurricular support to underprivileged students in the Miami area. Mr. Battier played for the Duke Blue Devils in college, and was named the National Defensive Player of the Year three times. In this class, Mr. Battier speaks about the lessons he learned in both his college and professional careers, and the characteristics that shape a winner, both on and off the court. 

Lilia Infante was a Special Agent at the US Department of Justice for 10+ years, where she worked with cybercrimes and money laundering. She led both the locating of criminals and the field work to capture the criminals. In her discussion with Underground Academy, Ms. Infante talks about her experiences working at the Department of Justice, her craziest cases, her experiences as a woman working in a male-dominated field, and more. 

Vicki Lopez is a representative for the Florida House of Representatives. In this class, Representative Lopez talks with us about her experiences in politics, what led her to pursue a career in politics, how she makes sure to follow through on her promises as an elected official, her experience with political polarization, and more.