At Missouri State students have the unique opportunity to be a part of a community that creates an environment where meaningful interactions occur and matter. The end goal? To cultivate global citizens.
Students at Missouri State are sent out into the world ready to make their mark and feel empowered, confident and strong.
Our public affairs mission honors that want, and the pillars of public affairs is the foundation we build that want upon.
At the Public Affairs Conference, you have the opportunity to be inspired, challenged, encouraged and empowered.
Because each speaker has a different story. They come from different places. They are different people. Yet, through their trials, achievements, and failures they have experienced what it is like to make their statement.
The following are a few of the speakers during that Public Affairs Conference that will surely empower you to make your Missouri Statement.
Robert Ballard
Robert Ballard is best known for his 1985 discovery of the Titanic. Dr. Ballard has succeeded in tracking down numerous other significant shipwrecks, including the German battleship Bismarck, the lost fleet of Guadalcanal, U.S. aircraft carrier Yorktown (sunk in the World War II Battle of Midway) and John F. Kennedy’s boat, PT-109.
Additionally, in 2014, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States of America.
Furthermore, Ballard has published numerous books, scientific papers and a dozen articles in National Geographic magazine. He has been featured in several National Geographic television programs, including the record-breaking “Secrets of the Titanic.”
Ballard’s fascinating journeys can teach us a great deal about our past, and they have encouraged others to take tremendous steps in the exploration of the undiscovered mysteries of the deep sea.
You can attend Ballard’s session:
- Tuesday, April 10
- The personal account of how the Titanic was found and a look into the future
- 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- PSU Theater
- The personal account of how the Titanic was found and a look into the future
John Bongiorno
John Bongiorno builds bridges between the realms of business and charity as the president of WorldServe International, the leading provider of clean water wells in East African communities. Moreover, today, more than 3,000,000 people receive clean water from projects funded and/or facilitated by WorldServe.
Consequently, half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from waterborne illnesses.
Bongiorno loves connecting business leaders with economic development opportunities in communities struggling with the challenges of extreme poverty – leading them to “do good and do well.”
You can attend Bongiorno’s session:
- Thursday, April 12
- Water for all: Fresh isn’t free
- 3 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- PSU Ballroom East
- Water for all: Fresh isn’t free
Nick Brown
Nick Brown is an educator and sustainability professional from Arizona. Brown specializes in greenhouse gas emissions management and zero waste and environmental ethics.
During his time, Brown has installed solar and wind energy systems and has managed environmental conservation programs for World Wildlife Fund, NatureServe and Sierra Club.
Under his leadership, Arizona State University became the nation’s leader in campus-based solar energy production.
You can attend Brown’s sessions:
- Wednesday, April 11
- Managing global climate change through mitigation and adaptation
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
- PSU Ballroom West
- Managing global climate change through mitigation and adaptation
- Thursday, April 12
- Is traditional higher education sustainable?
- 9:00 p.m. – 10:15 a.m.
- PSU 313
- Water for all: Fresh isn’t free
- 3 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- PSU Ballroom East
- Is traditional higher education sustainable?
Majora Carter
Majora Carter is a leading urban revitalization strategy consultant, real estate developer and Peabody Award winning broadcaster. She is responsible for the creation and implementation of numerous green infrastructure projects, policies and job training and placement systems, leading educational institutions across the U.S.
Also, Carter deployed MIT’s first ever Mobile Fab-Lab (digital fabrication laboratory) to the South Bronx where it served as an early iteration of the “Maker-Spaces” found elsewhere today. The project drew residents and visitors together for guided and creative collaborations.
Meanwhile, after establishing Sustainable South Bronx and Green For All, she opened a private consulting firm to help spread the message and success of social enterprise and economic development in low-status communities, which was named Best for the World by B-Corp.
You can attend Carter’s session:
- Thursday, April 12
- Urban revitalization: Creating sustainable change
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
- PSU Theater
- Urban revitalization: Creating sustainable change
Brady Deaton
Brady Deaton was chancellor of the University of Missouri from 2004-13 and now serves in emeritus status and as director of MU’s Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development. In addition, he was appointed chair of the board for International Food and Agricultural Development by President Obama in 2011 and reappointed in 2012 for a four-year term.
To close, he is a recipient of the Malone Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities for furthering international education in public higher education, was a member of the board of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center throughout his time as chancellor, and served on the International Committee of the Association of American Universities (AAU).
You can attend Deaton’s sessions:
- Wednesday, April 11
- Global food security: The challenge and promise for higher education
- 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- PSU Theater
- Global food security: The challenge and promise for higher education
- Thursday, April 12
- Is traditional higher education sustainable?
- 9:00 p.m. – 10:15 a.m.
- PSU 313
- Is traditional higher education sustainable?
Kimberly Ho
Kimberly Ho is the CEO of Apogée International, a California skincare company. She started her business 25 years ago with only $500 and a passion to bring good products to market. In 2009, Ho was awarded the Small Business of The Year Award by the California Small Business Association and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Ho began her public service in 2009 as a planning commissioner. And in 2016, she ran for political office. She was the first female Vietnamese-American elected to the Westminster City Council and the first to unseat an incumbent by a wide margin, too. She served on the Traffic Commission and the Financial Task Force.
Ho hopes to promote tourism and end homelessness during her tenure on the council.
You can attend Ho’s sessions:
- Tuesday, April 10
- Leadership, assimilation and growing inclusive business
- 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- PSU 313
- Leadership, assimilation and growing inclusive business
- Wednesday, April 11
- Artistic expression and the quest for a sustainable future
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
- PSU 313
- Artistic expression and the quest for a sustainable future
- Thursday, April 12
- How do social entrepreneurs contribute to sustainability?
- 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 p.m.
- PSU Ballroom East
- How do social entrepreneurs contribute to sustainability?
Hellen Rwangyezi
Hellen Rwangyezi is the marketing manager of the Ndere Foundation, a Ugandan philanthropic organization that aims to promote the heritage and traditions of the East African Great Lakes region.
In her early days, she worked at the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation where she developed and produced scripts for radio. In addition, she produced and co-hosted “The Literature Show,” selecting appropriate texts and materials to promote awareness of the current political, social and economic issues in Uganda.
Her passion is to promote cross-cultural respect as a basis for world peace and stability. Accordingly, she does this by developing effective communication beyond the barriers of verbal languages.
You can attend Rwangyezi’s sessions:
- Tuesday, April 10
- Hunger and nutrition, near and far
- 9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
- PSU 313
- Hunger and nutrition, near and far
- Wednesday, April 11
- Artistic expression and the quest for a sustainable future
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
- PSU 313
- Artistic expression and the quest for a sustainable future
- Thursday, April 12
- Sustaining cultural traditions: How the past can illuminate the future
- 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- PSU Ballroom West
- Sustaining cultural traditions: How the past can illuminate the future
Jay Trivedi
Jay Trivedi is a graduate student at Missouri State University. He held an internship with UBER, where he lead a newly launched program into his home city Ahmedabad. Also, Trivedi volunteered with the NonGovernmental Organization (NGO) called Together in Development and Education (TIDE). There, he was a member of the HR team.
Trivedi received his bachelor’s in computer engineering from India. As a Scout, he received the Governor’s award and was part of many activities for social work.
You can attend Trivedi’s session:
- Wednesday, April 11
- Faith and the environment
- 9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
- PSU Ballroom East
- Faith and the environment