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Speaker Program

Belmont Hill is so fortunate to be able to offer our boys a wide array of distinguished speakers in our historic Hamilton Chapel. Through the years, our Head of School, alumni, and faculty—as well as an impressive list of guest speakers—have presented on a broad range of topics. Head of School Chapel Talks and the Parents' Council Speaker Series are made available to parents by video whenever possible. Other talks are shared publicly on occasion, but the primary audience is the internal community of faculty, staff, and the boys.

2026-2027 Speakers

The list below highlights our confirmed visiting speakers for the upcoming school year. Additional speakers will be added as arrangements are finalized.

A smiling man in a suit is pictured on the left, with the name %22Tommy Amaker%22 written in white text on a blue background to the right.

Tommy Amaker
Head Coach, Harvard Men’s Basketball & Executive Fellow, Harvard Business School

Tommy Amaker is the all-time winningest head coach in Harvard men’s basketball history. Over 19 seasons in Cambridge, he transformed the Crimson into an Ivy League powerhouse, directing the program to seven Ivy League championships, four NCAA tournament appearances, and eight postseason berths. Prior to Harvard, Mr. Amaker served as head coach at Michigan—winning the 2004 NIT championship—and Seton Hall. His basketball roots trace back to Duke University, where he was an All-American point guard and later won two national championships as an assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski.

Beyond his record on the court, Mr. Amaker is a nationally respected leader in mentorship, inclusion, and executive leadership. He serves as an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School and co-chairs the NABC Committee on Racial Reconciliation, an effort that earned him the 2021 NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Inclusion. He also serves on the Board of Overseers for the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, demonstrating a lifelong dedication to community leadership.

Through his extensive background in athletics and academia, Mr. Amaker brings invaluable lessons in teamwork, resilience, and executive leadership. He remains dedicated to developing the next generation of student-athletes into impactful leaders both on and off the court.
 

A woman wearing glasses and a dark blazer is pictured on the right, with the name %22Lisa Damour%22 displayed in white text on a dark blue background to the left.

Dr. Lisa Damour

Psychologist, Author, and Pixar’s Mental Health Consultant for Inside Out 2

Dr. Lisa Damour is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist, author, and thought leader specializing in adolescent development, mental health, and emotional well-being. She is the author of three New York Times bestsellers—Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers—which have been translated into 23 languages to help young people and their families navigate the challenges of growing up.

Students may be familiar with Dr. Damour’s work behind the scenes in media: she served as a key mental health consultant to Pixar for the film Inside Out 2, helping shape its authentic portrayal of teenage emotions. She also hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, created the Untangling 10to20 digital library for youth support, and frequently contributes expert commentary to CBS News and the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Damour actively advocates for youth mental health on a global scale through collaborations with UNICEF, the Ad Council’s Sound It Out Together platform, and Harvard University’s Making Caring Common project. A graduate of Yale University with a doctorate from the University of Michigan, she currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University while speaking globally to help students build lasting resilience.
 

A man in a jacket is pictured in the foreground, with the name %22Chris Herren%22 written in white text on a blue background in the background.

Chris Herren
Former NBA Player, Author, and Founder of the Herren Project

Chris Herren was a celebrated basketball star in his native Fall River, MA, before playing at Boston College, Fresno State, and two seasons in the NBA—including one with his hometown team, the Boston Celtics. After seven seasons overseas, his career was derailed by addiction. With the support of family and friends, Mr. Herren achieved sobriety on August 1, 2008, and has since dedicated his life to sharing his story and helping others.

His recovery journey is documented in the bestselling memoir Basketball Junkie, the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary Unguarded, and numerous national media outlets. Through Herren Talks, he has spoken to over one million students and community members, sparking honest discussions about substance use disorder, decision-making, and wellness.

In 2011, Mr. Herren founded the nonprofit Herren Project, which empowers schools and communities to make healthy choices while guiding families through recovery. In 2018, he launched Herren Wellness, a residential program helping guests lead healthy, substance-free lives. His presentation offers students a raw, inspiring look at accountability, resilience, and the power of seeking help.
 

A portrait of Mark Milley '76 is shown on the right, with his name and graduation year displayed on the left against a dark blue background.

General Mark Milley ’76
20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff & Four-Star General (Ret.)

General (Ret.) Mark A. Milley served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer and principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman in 2019, General Milley served as the 39th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. A proud Belmont Hill graduate from the Class of 1976, he retired in 2023 after more than four decades of distinguished service across six divisions, including Special Forces.

General Milley holds a degree in Political Science from Princeton University, master’s degrees from Columbia University and the U.S. Naval War College, and is a graduate of the MIT Seminar XXI National Security Studies Program. He currently serves as a Distinguished Fellow in Residence at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a visiting professor at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

With unmatched insight into crisis management, character, and global security, General Milley offers a firsthand perspective on modern geopolitical issues. He helps young leaders understand the weight of making tough decisions under pressure, the vital importance of selfless service, and the responsibility of navigating historical turning points.
 

Dr. Jill Walsh
Researcher, Boston University Lecturer, and Expert on Youth & Social Media

Dr. Jill Walsh is a researcher, author, and lecturer at Boston University specializing in the intersection of society, technology, and adolescent development. Prior to her academic career, she spent five years teaching, coaching, and mentoring high school students at the Noble and Greenough School, giving her a deep, first-hand understanding of youth culture. She holds a PhD from Boston University, a Master’s in Public Policy from Brown University, and a B.A. from Harvard University.

Dr. Walsh’s research examines how social media and digital self-documentation alter adolescent growth. Her book, Adolescents and Their Social Media Narratives: A Digital Coming of Age, explores online platforms as spaces where teens construct identities. A recognized expert on digital life, she served on a research team examining high-achieving student stress and is currently involved in a longitudinal study investigating how adult mentors can foster purpose in teens to buffer against anxiety.

Through her teaching, research, and speaking engagements, Dr. Walsh translates complex sociological insights into practical guidance for students and educators. She equips young people to navigate digital spaces mindfully, build resilience, and foster meaningful connections in an increasingly digital world.
 

A portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. is on the right, with text about an annual speaker on the left, all against a gray background.
White text reading %22ANNUAL VETERANS DAY SPEAKER%22 is superimposed over a blurred background of American flags.
Cum Laude Academic Excellence Chapel

Previous Speakers

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Previous Speakers

Lt. Daniel McDonald
Arshay Cooper
Field Yates
Jessica Lahey
Brandord Marsalis
Mark Chandler
Joani Geltman
Caroline Randall Williams
Dr. Michael Thompson
Greg Dayton
Peter Flaherty
Rabbi Marc Baker
Alison Crowther
Kenya Barris
Michael G. Thompson
Dr. Lee M. Levison
Rich Newton
David Brooks
Taswell Papier
Olympians Tokyo 2020
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller
Imari Paris Jeffries
Julie Nicoletti
Chris Herren
Dr. Noubar Afeyan
Stephen Kinzer
Dr. Shinya Yamanaka
The image shows a man with a beard wearing a dark suit, standing in front of a background with the text %22SEPTEMBER 30, 2022%22 and %22Ryan O'Callaghan%22 displayed.
The image shows a smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a navy blue top, standing in front of a plain background with the text %22OCTOBER 7, 2022%22 and %22Molly King%22 displayed.
The image shows a middle-aged man with a gray beard wearing glasses and a light-colored shirt against a plain background with the date %22November 8, 2022%22 and the name %22Glenn Loury%22 displayed.
The image shows a man in a military uniform with various medals and insignia, standing in front of a banner that displays the date %22November 30, 2022%22 and identifies him as %22Cdr Peter Firenze 97%22 and a %22Veterans Day Speaker%22.
The image shows a smiling man with glasses wearing a dark gray sweater and holding a plaid scarf, with the text %22JANUARY 17, 2023%22 and %22Clint Smith%22 displayed above him.
The image features four headshot portraits of individuals in formal attire, along with text announcing an event titled %22Alumni in Medicine%22 on February 3, 2023.
The image shows a smiling man with glasses wearing a black suit, with the text %22FEBRUARY 17, 2023 Jason Hsu (Hsu Yu-jen; 許育仁) KAGEYAMA-HUNT LECTURE SERIES%22 displayed below.
Poet Regie Gibson at Belmont Hill for a week of poetry
Visiting Speaker Lisa Monaco
The image shows a close-up portrait of a man with a bald head wearing a yellow shirt, against a dark background with text displaying his name and the date.
The image shows a smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a floral-patterned blouse, with the text %22OCTOBER 20, 2023%22 and %22Jamie Hagerman Phinney%22 displayed above her.
Joe Toscano
The image shows a smiling man wearing a beige vest and a blue shirt, with the text %22FEBRUARY 16, 2024%22 and %22Dr. Karan Thakur%22 displayed above him, along with the text %22KAGEYAMA-HUNT LECTURE SERIES%22 below.
The image shows a smiling man with glasses wearing a gray sweater against a plain background, with the text %22APRIL 29, 2024%22 and %22Alex Maws '89%22 displayed below.
The image features a headshot of a man with a friendly expression, set against a dark background with the Earth Day logo and the date %22April 22, 2024%22 displayed prominently.
The image shows a smiling man wearing a suit and tie, standing in front of an American flag. The text below the image states %22November 10, 2023, Ian Connor '10, Veterans Day Speaker%22.
The image shows an older man with a cowboy hat playing an acoustic guitar against a dark background with the date %22December 8, 2023%22 displayed.
The image shows a smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a blue top, with the text %22January 16, 2024%22 and %22Jennifer De Leon%22 displayed above her.
The image shows a smiling man with gray hair wearing a suit and tie, with the date %22November 17, 2023%22 and the text %22Dr. Richard I. Melvoin%22 displayed above him.
The image features a book cover for %22New Kid%22 by Jerry Craft, along with a portrait of the author wearing a baseball cap.

Speaker Program

A wooden podium with the Belmont High School logo stands in the foreground, while a piano can be seen in the background.