The Vanderbilt University Speakers Committee just released a Facebook post announcing that writer, director and producer Ava DuVernay is unable to participate in this year’s IMPACT symposium, titled “Who Are Our Heroes?”
According to the post, the Speakers Committee is continuing to work with DuVernay in the hopes of rescheduling her lecture. The other two IMPACT speakers, two-time Olympic gold medalist, soccer star and advocate Abby Wambach and acclaimed author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates are still scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, respectively.
The full text of the Speakers Committee’s Facebook post is included below:
It is with great regret that we announce Ava DuVernay has had to withdraw from her speaking engagement in IMPACT due to circumstances outside our control. We are currently working on finding a replacement date.
We share in your disappointment and apologize for the late change to the program. IMPACT 2019 will therefore run from this Tuesday 26th-Wednesday 27th March with the fantastic Abby Wambach and Ta-Nehisi Coates. We hope you will join us at Langford for what are set to be two thought-provoking and enjoyable evenings. Ticket holders will be contacted through TicketWeb about returns.
Tickets are available here, and are free for students, $5 for staff and faculty and $10 for the general public.