We're saving you a (free) seat: Maverick Speakers Series at UT Arlington

Downtown Arlington plays host to many great traditions such as Light Up Arlington, the Holiday Lights Parade, and performing and fine art seasons, just to name a few. But one of our favorite traditions is UT Arlington's Maverick Speakers Series, now in its eighth consecutive year.

The University of Texas at Arlington lines up a compelling and diverse group of thought leaders, experts and pioneers for this public lecture series that kicks off every the fall and runs through the spring. The A-listers who’ve graced the stages of Texas Hall and College Park Center for the Maverick Speakers Series have included Seth Meyers, Sally Ride, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Magic Johnson and Anderson Cooper.

Award-winning actress and humanitarian Mia Farrow opens the 2015-16 Maverick Speakers Series on October 8. The season will also include entrepreneur Daymond John, political leaders Ron Paul and Donna Brazile, and famed animal behavior researcher Jane Goodall. 

And it's free. Free!

Sure, you can choose to purchase reserved seating packages for individual lectures. You can also pay a premium to join each speaker for an exclusive pre-lecture event. These are terrific perks that are worth every penny. But you can also choose to reserve a free ticket and still enjoy the lecture, Q&A, and book signing (when offered).

The opportunity to experience this kind of lecture series, particularly for free, is unique. While other universities and organizations – just up the highway and across the country -- do offer public lectures, they rarely offer a free ticket option to the public and are often held in smaller venues that greatly limit the size of the audience.

Don’t miss out! Check out the schedule (below) and make plans to be a part of this special downtown Arlington tradition.

UT ARLINGTON MAVERICK SPEAKERS SERIES

2015-16 SCHEDULE

Mia Farrow – “What Falls Away: One Woman’s Journey to Fulfillment”

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, 7:30 p.m. Texas Hall

Tickets available now

The award-winning actress has worked extensively as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and is involved in humanitarian activities in Africa.

Daymond John – “Daymond John on Shark Tank Entrepreneurship”

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, 7:30 p.m. College Park Center

Tickets available now

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John is the CEO and founder of FUBU, a global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales. He joined the cast of Shark Tank in 2009.

Ron Paul – “Liberty Defined: The Future of Freedom”

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, 7:30 p.m. Texas Hall

Tickets available Jan. 5, 2016

Since his retirement from Congress, Paul has continued to work for limited constitutional government. In addition to hosting the nationally syndicated podcast Ron Paul’s America, he has launched The Ron Paul Channel, an online network airing original programming.

Donna Brazile – “Donna Brazile: Politics and Beyond”

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, 7:30 p.m. Texas Hall

Tickets available Jan. 19, 2016

Democratic political strategist and commentator Donna Brazile is also an adjunct professor, author, syndicated columnist, and a vice chair at the Democratic National Committee.

Jane Goodall – “Gombe and Beyond: An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall”

Thursday, March 31, 2016, 7:30 p.m. College Park Center

Tickets available March 1, 2016

A UN Messenger of Peace and one of the world's foremost experts on chimpanzees, Dr. Jane Goodall is best known for her more than five decades of scientific exploration on the behavior of wild chimpanzees at Gombe National Park.

TICKET OPTIONS

Tickets are required for admission.

General Admission: Reserve free general admission ticket at utatickets.com. General admission tickets are limited to two per person.

Preferred Package: Offers greater access than general admission and is available for $30 a ticket. The preferred package includes reserved entrance to the lecture facility to avoid long lines, reserved seating near the front of the venue, reserved parking near the front of the venue (one parking permit per purchase), and front-of-the-line access to book signings when offered. Preferred packages can be purchased at utatickets.com.

V.I.P. Package: Benefits include preferred packages access and entry to an exclusive reception with the featured speaker. Along with entry to a private sit-down, catered dinner before the event, photograph and autograph opportunities are available. V.I.P. tickets are $500 per person. Contact Mark LaVelle at mlavelle@uta.edu or 817-272-5235 to purchase the V.I.P. Package.

For more information, visit uta.edu/maverickspeakers