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Guest Speaker Information

Guest Speaker Information

Ryan Leaf – 2019 Guest Speaker

Ryan Leaf is a former NFL QB whose career was full of expectations he didn’t live up to. That failure accompanied with his inability to live life on life’s terms found him in a prison cell both literally and emotionally. Such adversity coupled with the guidance of an unexpected ally, Ryan has become a symbol of peace and inspiration for those who struggle with substance abuse and mental illness. Ryan currently is the Program Ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community as well as a College Football and NFL Analyst for ESPN & SiriusXM.

Sam Quinones – 2018 Guest Speaker

Sam Quinones’ career as a journalist has spanned almost 30 years. Living for ten years as a freelance writer in Mexico where he wrote his first two books, he returned to the United States in 2004 to work for the L.A. Times, covering immigration, drug trafficking, neighborhood stories, and gangs. In 2014, Quinones resigned from the paper to return to freelance writing, working for National Geographic, Pacific Standard Magazine, the New York Times, Los Angeles Magazine, among other publications.