In-Depth: YSU hosting star tennis player Venus Williams as part of lecture series

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Youngstown State University is hosting two guest speakers in the coming weeks — one is a tennis star and the other is a filmmaker, scholar and journalist.

Athlete Venus Williams will be coming to the Valley on Wednesday. She will be speaking on YSU’s campus at 7 p.m. in Beeghly Center.

“Venus Williams is coming through our Thomas Colloquium on free enterprise. The Thomas family and their generous support of the university and our community provide a way for us to bring world-class, elite business leaders to the YSU campus and to the Youngstown community for our students, our faculty and staff, and our community — free of charge,” said Dr. Christina Saenger, associate dean of the Williamson College of Business.

Saenger said there’s a lot of thought that goes into who is asked to come speak.

“We try to select a wide range of speakers, like Venus Williams, who is best known as an athlete and how she has transitioned her experience as an athlete into business, entrepreneurship and leadership,” she said.

The university is welcoming Henry Louis Gates Jr. to discuss “Finding Your Roots,” his groundbreaking genealogy and genetics series on PBS.

He will be speaking on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Tickets are free for both events but are first-come, first-served.

For Williams’ speaking event, you can get your tickets at the YSU Athletic Ticket Office on the north end of Stambaugh Stadium. They will also be available at the door the night of the event.

“She will take the stage at 7:00 and we’re expecting a huge crowd,” said Jackie LeViseur, director of University Events.

For Gates’ speaking event, you can get tickets online or at the DeYor Performing Arts Center box office at 260 W. Federal St. downtown. Tickets are limited to four per person.

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