We’ve invited five people (six, including keynote Jillian Michaels) to highlight the Public Affairs Conference as plenary speakers. Who are they? What makes them unique?

Zack Exley

Exley is an intriguing choice to speak at the conference, as he’s garnered plenty of experience in the national political spectrum. That includes his current position as a full-time senior adviser to the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. A pioneer in online fundraising, he also played a pivotal role in the rise of the Wikimedia Foundation.

Plus, this isn’t Exley’s first trip to Springfield. He stopped by two years ago to chat with Jeff Houghton on The Mystery Hour.

Peter Gray

Gray is all about the psychology behind education, and has focused his research on the importance of play in a child’s development. Did today’s college students get to play enough when they were growing up? If not, what are the consequences of that? That’s the focus of Gray’s plenary talk at the conference.

Robert Putnam

What we know as “The American Dream” might be shifting because there’s a problem: A gap in opportunity, which is not always equal, and therefore doesn’t give everyone a true chance to work hard and achieve success.

Paul Thomlinson

Thomlinson won’t have to travel far to join the conference, as he serves as the vice president for research and quality assurance at Burrell Behavioral Health in Springfield. Plus, he’s familiar with the campus, as he was a Missouri State faculty member. He’s a go-to source for local media thanks to his expertise on mental health issues.

Mark Umbreit

Ever heard the phrase “Forgive and forget”? Forgiveness is far more than that, Umbreit says, and ties directly to his talk on restorative justice.