Sophia A. Nelson, Esquire, is the 2024 Distinguished Varner Vitality Lecturer and award winner at Oakland University in Michigan. She is a highly regarded award-winning author, journalist, and distinguished international motivational speaker. Renowned for her perceptive columns on CNN Opinion and her weekly appearances on CNN, where she offers expert legal and political analysis, Nelson boasts a background as a former Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Big 10 Law Firm Senior Counsel, and Capitol Hill Congressional Committee Counsel. She is widely recognized as a Scholar, Lecturer, and Panel Moderator at prestigious academic institutions such as Harvard's Kennedy School, Bowdoin College, Depauw University, University of Indiana-Bloomington, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the United States. Nelson has been featured on prominent national programs such as Morning Joe, The Today Show, Nightline, and NPR. A trailblazer in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, women's workplace wellness, and Emotional Intelligence (EIQ), she serves as a respected curator and trainer in corporate leadership and human resources development. Collaborating closely with Fortune 100 companies, Nelson has left a significant impact on global diversity and workplace wellness practices, extending her influence as far as Sydney, Australia. With four bestselling non-fiction works to her name, including "Black Woman Redefined," "The Woman Code," "ePluribus One," and her latest 2022 publication, "Be the One You Need: 21 Life Lessons I Learned While Taking Care of Everyone But Me" (Simon & Schuster 2022). Nelson continues to make meaningful contributions to literature and societal well-being through her various media, writing, and speaking platforms. She is the founder of the new "Redefining Freedom" Center located in Virginia, and she is working on her 5th book by the same name, due for publication in 2026.