Erasmus, better known as Erasmus or Erasmus of Rotterdam, is considered to be one of the greatest scholars of the northern Renaissance. A Dutch humanist and priest, Erasmus was a leading activist and thinker. Referred to as the “crowning glory of the Christian humanists,” Erasmus defined the humanist movement in Northern Europe and sought to reform the Church. He was also the first editor of the N

Florence Nightingale, affectionately called “The Lady with the Lamp,” was an exceedingly compassionate nurse who reformed healthcare. She founded a hospital and nurse training school and wrote over 200 books and articles on health-related issues. Divinely inspired and strongly motivated, Florence Nightingale would ultimately fulfill her dream to serve humanity in her best possible way. During a co

Dr. Seiei Toyama studied the desert throughout his life and mastered the technology of greening desert. Led by Dr. Toyama, volunteers from Japan, China, and all over the world worked together for more than 10 years. Finally, the 20,000-hectare Engebei area, which was once almost uninhabited, became restored to a vibrant area with 70 percent vegetation coverage. Thus, desertification has been effec

A leading expert in desert control, Dr. Seiei Toyama was respectfully known as “Father of the Desert” in Japan, and also held an honorary citizenship for Inner Mongolia. Dr. Seiei Toyama was born in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in 1906. As a student, young Dr. Seiei Toyama expressed interest in desert management. He enrolled in Kyoto University, where he went on to earn his doctorate degree in agr

Michelangelo started gaining fame after creating the “Pietà,” a beloved sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the body of Lord Jesus Christ. Following his impressive achievements, Michelangelo became one of the most famous and sought-after artists in Europe. Michelangelo’s interest in the after-life influenced the content of his second painting for the Sistine Chapel. The finished mural, “

A leading light of the Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo was known as "II Divino" meaning "the divine one," and is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. A poet, sculptor, and architect, his creations include internationally renowned masterpieces like the famous marble sculpture of King David of Israel and the magnificent biblical painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michela

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” - Dr. Albert Einstein. In respecting the sanctity of all lives, throughout his existence, Dr. Albert Einstein believed in the ideals of vegetarianism. He wrote in a letter to Germany Vegetarian Watch-Tower on December 27, 1930: "…I have long been an adherent to the

Dr. Albert Einstein was an internationally acclaimed physicist and Nobel Laureate. His scientific theories on relativity and his work on space-time helped charter the course of modern physics. In 1999, Time Magazine named him “The Person of the Century.” Albert Einstein was born to middle-class Jewish parents in 1879, in Ulm, Germany. 1905 became his Annus mirabilis, or “miracle year,” when Dr. Ei

The Marvel characters that he helped formulate live in the real world. They come with imperfections and a human touch. Ultimately, the Marvel superheroes exemplify the best qualities within each and every one of us. Moreover, his noble ideals always shone through his creations. The one constant outcome in his stories was that “good would triumph over evil and love conquers all.” In 1972, Stan Lee

Stan Lee, a legend in the comic book industry, played a major role in creating hundreds of beloved Marvel Comics characters, from Spider-Man to the Fantastic Four, the Hulk to Thor and the X-Men. Stan Lee humanized heroes who continue to influence pop culture and inspire young and old to always follow the path of light. Growing up, Stan Lee had different interests than his schoolmates. Stan Lee be

Abu al-‘Ala’ al-Ma‘arri, a man of keen intellect and deep thought, is respected as one of the greatest Arab classical poets. When he was four years old, al- Ma‘arri was afflicted with small pox. The illness ultimately resulted in the loss of his vision. His unconventional wisdom and philosophy and his profound reasoning had led to a sudden surge in his reputation. He rapidly became a highly sought

Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was born in 1861 at Kraljevec, present-day Croatia. Dr. Rudolf Steiner was a great polymath, a philosopher and scientist. An eloquent public speaker and gifted writer, he gave over 6,000 lectures in his lifetime, and he published more than 25 books. He developed and taught a path of research called anthroposophy, based on “the science of the spirit.” Rudolf Steiner was

Amidst her immense fame and success, Audrey Hepburn always had a special place in her heart for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s found. In 1988, she was appointed UNICEF Special Ambassador, and she became a Goodwill Ambassador the following year. Audrey Hepburn continued to dedicate herself to UNICEF’s cause, from making numerous field trips around the world to assist the most vulnerable. Aud

The much-loved Audrey Hepburn was a Hollywood legend, dance, a muse for fashion designers, and an icon for style. Glamorous and talented, she was a woman of courage and integrity, a voice for the children in need around the world, and a loving champion of peace and hope. Her performance received many positive reviews. Audrey Hepburn became the first actress to win an Academy Award, a Golden Globe

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick was a Kenyan-British author and leading elephant conservationist, specializing in the raising and reintegrating of orphaned elephants into the wild for over 30 years. Dr. Dame Daphne has authored several books, including “The Orphans of Tsavo” and “An Elephant Called Eleanor,” amongst others. In 2014, the documentary “Gardeners of Eden” was released, featuring some of the

David Sheldrick was fully devoted to the welfare of African wildlife, which he deemed sacrosanct. For over two decades, with Daphne's assistance, David more or less single-handedly built Tsavo East National Park, Kenya's largest national park. This sanctuary became the protected home to the country's biggest elephant population. In 1977, Dame Daphne Sheldrick's husband, David, passed away. Her hus

William Butler Yeats continued his discovery of mysticism with lengthy experiments with the help of his wife, who shared his interest in spirituality. She introduced him to automatic writing, in which one lets go of their own conscious intent and writes by channeling their subconsciousness or the spiritual realm. With her assistance, William wrote "A Vision," first published privately in 1925, abo

William Butler Yeats, also known simply as W. B. Yeats, was born June 13, 1865, in Sandymount of County Dublin, Ireland. Considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, his eloquent verses reflect a love of Ireland and mysticism, and earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature. “Though leaves are many, the root is one; Through all the lying days of my youth I swayed my leaves and flowers in

In the cold Northern Russian winter of 1881, Anna Pavlova was born. Upon graduating in 1899, at age 18, Anna entered the Imperial Ballet, known today as the Ballet Company of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, one of the most famous ballet companies in the world! Her wonderful charisma and the moving emotions conveyed through dance live on in the memories of all who saw her perform, in the

Welcome to this week’s episode of Models of Success, featuring Constantin Brâncuşi, an extraordinary sculptor from Romania. Constantin Brâncuşi, widely known simply as Brâncuşi, was born in 1876 in the beautiful region of Oltenia, Romania. We spoke to Dr. Sanda Miller, Senior Lecturer in Media and Visual Arts at Southampton Solent University in the United Kingdom and the author of "Constantin Brân