‘The Future of Entertainment’ at Quinnipiac University

Senior Vice President for Amazon Studios & Former President of Disney ABC-Television to Discuss ‘The Future of Entertainment’ at Quinnipiac University President’s Speaker Series on Nov. 8

HAMDEN -Mike Hopkins, senior vice president for Prime Video and Amazon Studios, and Anne Sweeney, former co-chair of Disney Media and former president of Disney ABC-Television, will discuss “The Future of Entertainment” as part of “The Way Forward: The Quinnipiac President’s Speaker Series,” at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8.

The virtual event is free and open to the public. Click here to register.

Quinnipiac President Judy Olian and Frederick Staudmyer, assistant professor of film, television, and media arts and chair of film, television and media arts, will moderate the discussion, which will include a question-and-answer session.

Hopkins has over 30 years of media experience and an extensive track record of developing and producing innovative television content, negotiating landmark distribution agreements and overseeing media businesses.

Hopkins joined Amazon in February 2020 as senior vice president, Prime Video and Amazon Studios, overseeing all aspects of Amazon’s video entertainment businesses. Hopkins previously served as chairman, Sony Pictures Television. Prior to that, he was chief executive officer of Hulu, one of the leading premium streaming destinations in the United States.

Hopkins, who also worked as president of distribution for Fox Networks, resides in Santa Monica with his wife and daughter. He serves on the UCLA Anderson School Board of Advisors, where he also earned his MBA. Hopkins also earned his bachelor's from California State University, Long Beach.

Sweeney is a member of the board of directors at Netflix and LEGO and the board of trustees at the Mayo Clinic, The Getty Museum and a Deans Distinguished Fellow at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Prior to embarking on a new chapter in the entertainment industry in 2015, she was co-chair, Disney Media Networks, and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, which includes The Walt Disney Company's global entertainment and news television properties, owned television stations group, as well as radio and publishing businesses.

Sweeney joined The Walt Disney Company in February 1996 as president of Disney Channel and executive vice president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks. Previously she was chairman and CEO of FX Networks, Inc., since 1993. During her tenure there, she presided over the launch of two basic cable networks, entertainment-focused FX and FXM: Movies from Fox, Hollywood's first studio-based movie network.

Before joining Fox, Sweeney spent 12 years at Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite in various executive positions. She has repeatedly been named the "Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment" by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" by Fortune and one of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes.

Sweeney earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Rochelle an a master’s degree in education from Harvard University.

“The Way Forward: The Quinnipiac President’s Speaker Series,” features thoughtful conversations about today’s social, economic and health challenges, and the trailblazing ideas that will drive solutions for tomorrow.