Two weeks ago, President Richard “Biff” Williams reflected on the importance of Missouri State’s public affairs mission — and the role the Public Affairs Conference plays in bringing the mission to life. As Williams noted, this year’s theme, “Resilient People, Resilient Future,” offers chances to engage with questions like “How can resilience be taught and strengthened?” and “What systems support it?”

“Resilient People, Resilient Future”

Learn more about this year’s theme and programming from Dr. Tina Liang, professor in the School of Hospitality and Agricultural Leadership and 2025 Public Affairs Fellow.

Event Details

• What: 2025 Public Affairs Conference, “Resilient People, Resilient Future”
• When: September 16–18
• Where: In-person keynote address is at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. In-person plenaries are in the Plaster Student Union Theater. Panel discussions are virtual. View the full schedule.
• More information: Free and open to the public. For more details, visit the Public Affairs Conference website.

Three Teaching Ideas That Leverage the Panels

The conference agenda includes 20 virtual panels. These panels are designed to promote vibrant conversations, featuring informed perspectives from all over the world. We recently chatted with Mary Ann Wood, director of public affairs support, about how faculty might use these panels in the classroom.

1. Screen a panel during class.

The scheduling of the virtual panels aligns with common course times. Consider checking the conference agenda for panels that connect to your courses’ learning outcomes. If something fits, you can screen it live, during your regular course time.

Joining the sessions is straightforward. Each session has a detailed description; within this description, you’ll find a button that reads “Click Here to Attend Virtual Session”. If you’re looking for ways to extend the learning experience, the public affairs blog recently shared strategies for creating discussions and assignments that complement panels.

2. Screen panel content after the conference.

You might also check out the panels on your own and then select one — or sections of different panels — to screen for your class. Following the conference, the “Click Here to Attend Virtual Session” button will be replaced with a link to a recording of the panel.

Keep in mind that the keynote address and plenaries will only be delivered in person. Recordings of the keynote and plenaries won’t be available after the conference, so encourage your students to attend these events live.

3. Suggest students utilize panels as source material.

Your students may have papers, projects or other research assignments that would benefit from sources in the panel discussions. Whether they’re seeking expertise or primary source perspectives, encourage them to browse the panel recordings for insight that will strengthen their work.

Recognizing Service to the Conference

Along with Liang and Wood, Stacey Trewatha-Bach, assistant director of public affairs support, led conference preparations. They received support from an advisory committee of Missouri State faculty and staff, as well as community representatives.

Check out the full list of committee members who collaborated to bring this year’s conference to life.