Ethics conversations on end of life decisions, sustainability, news reporting, poverty and race are among the panel discussions slated for April 14-17, as part of Missouri State University’s annual Public Affairs Conference.
The theme for the event, now in its 10th year, is The Ethical Citizen: Can you Make a Difference? Free and open to the public, the Public Affairs Conference is intended for all community members, often addressing a wide range of issues and featuring a diverse group of speakers.
University President Clif Smart says engaging all of the community around meaningful conversation encourages thinking on how one can make a difference.
“I think another part of that it helps us reach out to our community. That we’re not just educating students here we’re engaged in discussions with our community.”
Speakers will include Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., Sandra Postel with the National Geographic Society, and the founder of Purple W.I.N.G.S Toshia Shaw, among others.
Planning for the conference is a yearlong effort, says Smart. This year, associate professor for Theatre and Dance Dr. Kurt Heinlein is leading efforts to coordinate the event.
“My favorite piece of it – Tuesday afternoon from 2-5p – the students do presentations. They’ve been working for six months on a project, and they will present those in the course of the afternoon,” says Smart.
You can find more details on the event here, which concludes with the 2nd annual Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame.
Hosted by Missouri State University, the Hall of Fame honors the work of any Missourian, past and present, who has demonstrated civic engagement to improve the lives of others. Recipients this year are George Washington Carver, Eric Greitens and Simone Bernstein
“You will be inspired and engaged by the work these two younger people are currently doing, and of course to hear about George Washington Carver is always inspiring given what he did in a time when it was very difficult to have the kind of success he did as an African American.”