Every fall, Missouri State University’s Public Affairs Conference recognizes the public affairs mission of MSU. Along with celebrating the mission’s three pillars — ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement — the conference is formed around the year’s public affairs theme.
According to the MSU website, the 2023 conference is exploring the theme “Navigating the Now: Tradition, Innovation and Wisdom in a World of Change.” The conference will be held Sept. 26-28, and includes a variety of in-person and virtual speakers and panels discussing this year’s theme, including keynote speaker Joe Montana.
Montana is a four time Superbowl Champion Quarterback, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, according to the MSU website.
“From the lectern, Montana now brings lessons of preparation, teamwork and performance under pressure to business audiences as a popular motivational speaker,” says the website. “In September 2005, Montana released his second book, ‘The Winning Spirit: 16 Timeless Principles That Drive Performance Excellence.’”
His presenter bio on the university website’s public affairs page emphasizes Montana not only as a player and winner, but as a leader during his time in and out of sports.
Montana will be opening the conference on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The keynote address is an in-person only event.
The conference will also welcome four plenary speakers: educator, organizer,writer and public intellectual Shay-Akil McClean; NPR Science Desk Correspondent Yuki Noguchi, ILL-Abilities Founder Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli; and LA Central Podcasts audio and video producer and broadcast journalist Diego Senior. McClean and Noguchi will speak live in the PSU Theater on Sept. 27 and 28 respectively, while Patuelli and Senior’s speeches will be available as live virtual events on Sept 28 and 27 respectively. Along with Patuelli’s speech, the ILL-Abilities International Dance Crew will perform on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. in the PSU Theater.
Over a dozen presenters will also be included in the conference program, including improviser, artist educator and writer for the Emmy award winning “A Black Lady Sketch Show” Alrinthea Carter; CEO of Society for Public Health Education, William Datema; and writer, documentary researcher and social media storyteller, Mai Perkins.
All conference events are free of charge, require no registration and are open to the public. To view a complete conference schedule and more information on MSU’s public affairs conference, visit publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/2023.
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