About the Series
Now in the 18th season, the Voyages of Discovery Series brings timely, thought-provoking, and impactful leaders to speak directly to our community. Established through the creativity and funding of the Dean’s Advancement Council of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences in 2007, the series advances the spirit of exploration and discovery that is at the heart of the arts and sciences. The Voyages Series showcases the quality of academic life at ECU, while sharing nuanced and meaningful insights into society’s pressing issues with our students, faculty, staff, and the community of eastern North Carolina.
We hope you will consider a gift to help sustain the series into the future!
2024-2025 Season: “Trailblazing Tales: Telling the Stories of our Communities”
Find Information about FREE Tickets for ECU Students, Faculty, and Staff here!
LeVar Burton
Actor and Literacy Advocate
Beloved Former Host and Executive Producer of the PBS Children’s Program “Reading Rainbow”
“An Evening with Actor and Literacy Advocate LeVar Burton”
November 14, 2024
7 – 8:15 p.m. (EST) | Moderated Discussion and Q&A
ECU Main Campus Student Center Ballrooms
501 E. 10th St., Greenville, NC 27858
(Note: If you attended the reception, view, download or print your photo with LeVar Burton from the gallery of photos by Rob Taylor Photography & Design!)
Burton is an Emmy and Peabody award-winner known for his roles as Kunte Kinte in the 1977 ABC television miniseries “Roots” and as chief engineer Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
As a lifelong literacy advocate, Burton has dedicated decades to encouraging children to read. In 2017, the long-standing literacy nonprofit, Reading is Fundamental, acquired Burton’s Skybrary reading app to provide access to millions of children at home and school. Committed to improving children’s education through the latest pioneering technologies, Burton partnered with Osmo’s Reading Adventure, an innovative technology that uses speech recognition and digital storytelling to teach children to read. In 2023, he premiered his first documentary, “The Right to Read,” a film that positions the literacy crisis in America as a civil rights issue.
Most recently, Burton launched LeVar Burton Entertainment with a mission to create content that fosters empathy, champions diversity and builds community. Under this banner, Burton develops projects in film, television, podcasting and publishing. Now in its 13th season, his popular podcast, “LeVar Burton Reads,” has produced more than 200 episodes and boasts 25 million downloads.
Jeff Corwin
Biologist and Wildlife Conservationist
Creator, Executive Producer, and Host of the ABC TV series “Wildlife Nation: With Jeff Corwin”
“Tales from the Field with Jeff Corwin”
January 30, 2025
7 – 8:15 p.m. (EST) | Lecture and Audience Q&A
ECU Main Campus Student Center Ballrooms
501 E. 10th St., Greenville, NC 27858
Corwin is an Emmy award-winner known for hosting Disney Channel’s “Going Wild with Jeff Corwin.” For nearly three decades, Corwin has been telling stories of wildlife and nature to a global audience through his many celebrated television series on ABC, NBC, Travel Channel, Food Network, Disney Channel and Discovery Networks.
Currently, Corwin is the creator, executive producer and host of the ABC television series “Wildlife Nation,” which explores the remarkable story of North American conservation, highlighting heroes working to save endangered species and wilderness. The mission is to empower a diverse community with stories of environmental stewardship, conservation and the plight of imperiled wildlife. In addition, Corwin is the author of 10 books on wildlife and nature, including “Living on the Edge: Amazing Relationships in the Natural World.”
Corwin’s lifelong global exploration, academic training and partnerships with top scientists allow him exclusive access to the compelling stories from the battlefront of conservation. His love for adventure and discovery has fueled his life-long career. He has been striving to change the world one species at a time and leave a vital legacy for future generations.
2024 Voyages guest LeVar Burton with Series supporter Ms. Harvey Wooten. (Photo by Rob Taylor Photography & Design)
Voyages of Discovery Speaker Receptions
The 2024-2025 Voyages Series will include special-access receptions with the guest speaker prior to each public presentation.
Reception tickets are $45 and will include heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The receptions will have limited attendance and will be held from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in the Main Campus Student Center, Room 249, 501 E. 10th St., Greenville, NC 27858.
Guests attending the receptions, who park in the parking deck, may bring their parking ticket to the reception for a validation sticker for free parking. Guests who park in the garage, and only attend the 7 p.m. event, are responsible for the $1/hr rate.