AJ Mendez, mental health advocate, keynote speaker, former WWE professional wrestling champion and New York Times bestselling author, will be the next featured guest on Benedictine University’s “Journeys in Leadership” lecture series on Wednesday. February 16.
The virtual program will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to the public.
Mendez will discuss inspiring moments from her life story, as chronicled in her New York Times bestseller ‘Crazy Is My Superpower,’ in which she first addresses her uphill struggle to understand her demons. and the diagnosis of mental illness that helped her gain control over herself. life.
“AJ represents so much of what the ‘Journeys in Leadership’ series is about – a dynamic, accomplished individual who can speak to our community about the challenges and rewards of his unique journey,” said Phillip Hardy, associate professor of political science at Benedictine . University. “From his experiences in the world of professional wrestling to the obstacles he encountered while writing a book, AJ will be an outstanding addition to this program.”
Mendez received the 2018 Multicultural Awareness Award from the National Alliance for Mental Health and the 2020 Mental Health Leaders Award and serves on the board of directors of the Friends of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the UCLA.
Mendez, who earned a spot on The Black List’s Latinx TV slate in 2020, is co-founder of Scrappy Heart Productions, screenwriter of Netflix’s upcoming “Blade of the 47 Ronin,” and executive producer of Viacom’s upcoming CBS series. “WOW: Women of Wrestling.” Her writing is featured in DC Comics’ “Wonder Woman: Black & Gold” and she co-wrote IDW’s GLOW and Dungeons & Dragons comic book series alongside Aimee Garcia.
Mendez has 6 million engaged followers on Twitter and Instagram @TheAJMendez.
Journeys in Leadership is Benedictine University’s nonpartisan speaker series designed to highlight the successes and challenges of an eclectic mix of local, state, national and international leaders from a range of professional and academic backgrounds. . Emphasizing the importance of a liberal arts education, the common thread running through its speakers is their commitment to community discourse and active, healthy living.
How to register for the Zoom session:
To register, go to bit.ly/3AV33jY
Or contact Phillip Hardy at phardy@ben.edu or (630) 829-6292.
About Benedictine University
Benedictine University is located in Lisle, Illinois, just 25 miles west of Chicago, and has a branch campus in Mesa, Arizona. Founded as a Catholic university in 1887, Benedictine enrolls nearly 5,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Forbes magazine named Benedictine one of “America’s Top Colleges” for the ninth consecutive year in 2019. Benedictine University was also named the second safest campus in the nation and the safest campus in Illinois by yourlocalsecurity. com in 2019. Accredited by the Higher Education Commission. For more information about the University, contact (630) 829-6300, admissions@ben.edu or visit ben.edu.
