This year’s Public Affairs Conference starts on Tuesday, April 5. The theme for the conference is Building Healthy Communities: Body, Mind and Spirit. Participants will explore what it means to build healthy communities from a holistic perspective.

Jillian Michaels

The featured speaker for this year’s conference is Jillian Michaels, best known for her appearances on NBC’s Biggest Loser.

Her presentation titled How To Build an Exceptional Life will address the importance of attitude and action as tools that can change lives.

This session is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5 in JQH Arena.

Robert Putnam

You also won’t want to miss the presentation by Robert Putnam, bestselling author and professor of public policy at Harvard University, titled Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis.

His presentation will address the opportunity gap that has emerged over the last 25 years in America.

This session is scheduled for noon on Friday, April 8 in Juanita K. Hall for the Performing Arts.

Employees may use up to two hours of work time to attend

Because this conference is intended to stimulate thinking about a variety of interesting topics, employees may use up to two hours of their work time, in coordination with their supervisors, to attend the conference.  I encourage you to attend, and I encourage supervisors to facilitate attendance by individuals in your offices or divisions.

The full schedule is available on the Public Affairs Conference webpage. All sessions of the conference, including the presentations by Jillian Michaels and Robert Putnam, are free and open to the public. No registration or tickets are required to attend.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!