The athletics department at Texas, in conjunction with the Texas Relays, Longhorns track and field and cross country coach Bev Kearney and The Pursuit of Dreams Foundation, will hold the second annual “Conversations with Greatness” Symposium April 6.

The event introduces Texas student-athletes from all sports to successful minority professionals in fields such as government, education, entertainment, law, sports and business.

The symposium includes a networking brunch, panel discussions and breakout sessions and will also feature an invitation-only “Divine Diva Brunch” with prominent African-American women from a variety of professional areas.

Other participants include Kiana Dancie, comedienne and actress; former Longhorn football great Vince Young; and entertainment executives Morace Landy (executive vice president, Atlantic Records), Chauncey Childs (CEO of Axis Music), N.D. Brown (president of Tri Destined Studios), Greg Anderson (writer/producer of ‘Stomp the Yard’), Kelli Lawson (former executive vice President, BET) and Amber Noble (former Def Jam marketing director).

Texas football coach Mack Brown and the school’s vice president for diversity and community engagement, Gregory Vincent, will participate in the event as well.

“I began this symposium to bring together a distinguished group of minorities with stellar credentials who have excelled at their given professions and who can provide our student-athletes a look into what it takes to make a successful transition into the corporate world,” Kearney noted.

“We wanted the group of speakers invited to come from diverse backgrounds. Our most visible role models are in sports and entertainment. Success goes beyond that celebrity status. It’s not only the person who is visible to the public who is important. The people behind the entertainer and supporting the entertainer are of equal importance.  It’s essential to not only be able to get behind a microphone or be the performer on the athletic field, but to be the person who has the ability to get behind a desk with a phone and a different skill set and make things happen.”