Speaker: Loring Bullard
Topic: Back Yard Naturalist
From 1989 to 2012, Loring served as Executive Director for the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, a non-profit organization working to protect the sources of public drinking water in Springfield and Greene County, Missouri. Prior to that, he worked as an Environmental Health Supervisor at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. Since 2015, he has worked with the James River Basin Partnership as a watershed consultant. Loring currently serves on the boards of Ozark Land Trust and DarkSky Missouri. He has a Master’s Degree in Natural and Applied Science from Missouri State University and taught environmental science and aquatic biology courses at Drury University from 2010 to 2015. He has published five water-related books: Living Waters: The Springs of Missouri and Saving Bull Creek for the Ozark Studies Institute of Missouri State University; Consider the Source; A History of the Springfield Public Water Supply, for the Watershed Press; Healing Waters: Missouri’s Historical Mineral Springs and Spas, for the University of Missouri Press; and Springs of Greene County for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as well as numerous articles for Missouri Historical Review, Missouri Conservationist, and Missouri Resources. He has a lifelong love of water and enjoys canoeing and fishing on Ozark streams. Loring is married to Beth, has two grown daughters, and lives in Springfield.
Speaker: Bob Lanning, CW-4 MoARNG(ret)
Topic: a joint Navy, Army, and Air Force humanitarian project conducted in Guatemala from February to May 2007, named “New Horizons”.
Bob Lanning is a 30-yr retired veteran, having served 13 years in the U.S. Navy as an anti-submarine warfare patrol plane pilot during the cold war with Russia, and later for an additional 17 years as a Missouri Army Guard Huey and Blackhawk helicopter pilot. During his service, Bob deployed to Bermuda, the Azores,
Spain, Norway, Italy, Crete, Japan, Okinawa, Panama, Guatemala, and in 2004 a year in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, for which he received the Bronze Star. He retired (involuntarily) in 2008 having achieved the ranks of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and Chief Warrant Officer 4 in the Army Guard. He has also been an exploration geologist, underground mine geologist, and still works part time as an environmental hydrogeologist.
Speaker: Jeff Kessinger, Reader Engagement Editor Springfield Daily Citizen
Topic: Working for a Newspaper
Jeff Kessinger covered sports in SW Missouri for the better part of 20 years, from young athletes to the Pros. The Springfield native and Missouri State University alumnus is thrilled to be doing journalism in the Queen City as part of the Springfield Daily Citizen, helping connect the community with important information. He and wife, Jamie, daily try to keep a tent on the circus that is a blended family of five kids and three cats.
Speaker: Greg McManus CW 5, Army (ret)
Topic: Impact on my Life of Viet Nam Service as an Army Helicopter Pilot
CW5(RET) Gregory L McManus Service December 1968 – December 2009
CW5 (Retired) Greg McManus enlisted in the Army in 1967 and graduated from Flight School in 1968. He served in Vietnam from 1969-1970 as a gunship pilot in both the Huey and Cobra helicopters.
On March 5, 1970, Greg McManus, while in a single gunship, attacked an estimated regimental-size North Vietnamese Army infiltrating at night from the Cambodian border. He flew repeatedly through heavy machine gun fire until his aircraft received so many hits it became unflyable. This was the 6th time he was shot down. Greg has recently been nominated by Missouri’s Congressman Eric Burlison for the Medal of Honor. He helped establish the Mountain Rescue Helicopter Unit at Fort Carson, Colorado in 1970 and the Night Vision Goggle Program for the United States Army and was instrumental in establishing the Crew Resource Management Program in both the Army and National Guard, along with the Master Gunner Program for the attack helicopter units. He served as a Test Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Standardization Instructor Pilot, Instrument Flight Examiner and Aviation Safety Officer.
Greg also served during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 – 2007, where was tasked by the 101st Airborne Division to implement standard operating procedures for the C23 Special Operations Fixed Wing Unit. He was cited by the Legion of Merit for establishing flying programs and procedures that resulted in flying over 10,000 combat hours without accidents or injuries to members of the unit. He is the only Warrant Officer to attend and graduate from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Greg’s military awards include Nominated for the Medal of Honor, Legion of Merit, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Army Commendation Medals, 38 Air Medals, 3 Army Achievement Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Armed Forces Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism, Cross of Gallantry and the Order of St. Michael. He has 16,200 hours of accident-free flying in the military.
Ned Reynolds, Legendary Sportscaster
Presentation Title: How KY3 and I have transitioned over the years.
Ned Reynolds is best known as the face of Missouri sports in the Ozarks. For nearly 48 years, he delivered both the 6 P.M. and the 10 P.M. sportscast on KY3 in Springfield. A graduate of Temple University, he came to Missouri after serving in the Navy, and spent the rest of his career working in Missouri broadcasting. He has anchored morning sports talk radio on KWTO 98.7 FM beginning in 1982 and continues the “Sports Reporters” show that began in the late 1990s. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Missouri Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame (2019) and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2001and honored as a Legend in 2015.
Rick Gunter, Author
Presentation Title: Who the Heck is Mad Howard and What Drove Him Mad?
Presentation description: Announcing the Mad Howard book series. This new fictional series is both a prequel and the back story of Harold Bell Wright’s The Shepherd of the Hills (1907).
Rick J. Gunter is a son of the Ozarks, born and raised in Texas County Missouri. He was trained as a software engineer and spent many years working on various US Defense programs. The companies he worked for included Texas Instruments, Raytheon, Northop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and IBM. Now Rick is retired and has begun a new career as an author of both fiction and non-fiction books about the Missouri Ozarks.
Dr. Kitty Ledbetter, Emerita Professor of English Texas State University
Presentation Title: Broadcasting the Ozarks: Si Siman and Country Music at the Crossroads
Dr. Ledbetter taught Victorian British literature at Texas State University for 20 years and published many articles and books in her field. She retired in 2021 as emerita professor and moved back to her home town of Springfield, Missouri, where she began a career as a freelance writer. Dr Ledbetter is also a Member of the Missouri Speakers Bureau
Dr. Lazslo Kovacs, Professor Emeritus. Department of Biology, Missouri State University
Presentation Title: How Botanical Resources from Missouri Safeguards the World’s Grape Production: Missouri’s role in world viticulture.
Dr. Kovacs earned a University Diploma from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Gödöllõ, Hungary in 1986, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1992. He has been affiliated with Missouri State University since 1997 where he served as a professor in the Department of Agriculture from 2007 through 2009. Since 2009, Dr. Kovacs has been a professor in the Department of Biology at MSU. From 2006-2009, he also served as the co-director of the Center for Grapevine Technology at Missouri State. Dr. Kovacs began his career at Missouri State University as an assistant and associate research professor in the Department of Fruit Science from 1997 through 2007.
Speaker:Dr. Kayla Robinson
Topic: Native Americans: From History to Here.
Kayla D. (Lewis) Robinson, Ph.D., is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and serves as department head for the School of Special Education, Leadership, and Professional Studies at Missouri State University. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and an M.S.Ed. in Reading from Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in Reading from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
A former elementary teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, and literacy coach, Kayla has taught undergraduate and graduate literacy and diversity courses. She directed the Graduate Literacy Program for eight years before transitioning to her current leadership role. She also serves on various university, state, and community committees, including the board of directors for the Southwest Missouri Indian Center. Her research focuses on culturally authentic Native American children’s literature and Native content in social studies curriculum, with recent publications highlighting Indigenous languages and Native representation in elementary education.
Speaker: Dr. Ioana Popescu, Professor Emeriti of Biology (Retired), Drury University.
Topic: Herbalism: Medicinal Plants.
Ioana Popescu started teaching biology in 1990, as a private tutor while a junior in college, as a high school teacher while I was a senior in college in Bucharest Romania. In 1994 I came to the University of Cincinnati as a graduate student/teaching assistant, teaching a variety of biology & botany courses. And I became a botanist, appreciating plants as they often define the ecosystem: forest, savanna, prairie, offering a rich biodiversity making our world a better place; as well as part of a balanced mostly plant-based nutrition.
Starting 1999 I was a sabbatical replacement visiting biology & botany professor in Spokane WA, Monmouth IL, and a tenure-track & tenured professor in Springfield Missouri at Drury University, since 2001. I tremendously enjoyed teaching summer field botany courses at Au Sable & Pacific Rim Institute.
As most biology majors are pre-med / pre-health related career students, I developed a course on Medical Botany – plants & fungi affecting human health, focusing on not just plants that can heal but also plants detrimental to human health: plants that cause allergies or poisonous plants.
After teaching biology and botany in US for 30 years (1994-2024), in May 2024 I retired from Drury to have more time to work on developing content, shooting and editing plant videos!
When you have time and would like to learn more, check it out: YouTube – Ioana Talk Plants
Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols, Professor of Spanish at Drury University.
Topic: Immigration
Dr. Nichols is a professor of Spanish at Drury University. She received her doctorate in Hispanic literature and culture from the University of Kansas. Her current research investigates the construction of social norms of physical beauty in Venezuela and Latin America. In 2012, she was a Fulbright Scholar to do research in Argentina. Dr, Nichols is the coauthor of ABC-CLIO’s Venezuela and has published numerous book chapters and articles, including “Decent Girls with Good Hair: Beauty, Morality and Race in Venezuela,” in Feminist Theory; “Taking Possession of Public Discourse: Women and the Practice of Political Poetry in Venezuela,” in Bottom Up or Top Down? Participation and Clientelism in Venezuela’s Bolivarian Democracy; and “Ultra-Feminine Women of Power: Beauty and the State in Argentina,” in Women, Politics and Media in Emerging Democracies.
Speakers: Ms. Janice Grisham and Mr. Dan Miner
Title: “Blindness does not Define US.”
Dan Miner is a dedicated advocate and leader in the blind community, currently serving as the treasurer of the local National Federation of the Blind (NFB) chapter and as a board member of both the Missouri state affiliate and the remote chapter for the state. A creative soul, he runs a YouTube channel and enjoys playing the guitar. With a rich professional history, Dan has worked at esteemed organizations like the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Medtronic, Verizon, Level 3 Communications, and Dish Network in various software development roles. Today, he is passionate about advocating for the rights of the blind, bringing determination and insight to all he does.
Janice Grisham is currently the President of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Missouri Springfield Chapter, She sits on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Affiliate of the National federation of the Blind, Chair of the State Governmental Affairs committee and the First Response Committee. She also sits on the Board of Directors of Legends Project. Before loosing her sight Janice spent 20 plus years a Paramedic./Firefighter across Southwest Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. She now spends most of her time working hard advocating for the rights of the blind and trying to make it where all blind people can Live the Life they want .
Speaker: Dr. Paul Durham, Distinguished Professor, Missouri State University
Topic: Epigenetics.
Paul L. Durham, PhD, is Distinguished Professor in the Biology Department at Missouri State University and is serving as Provost Fellow for Research. He manages a multidisciplinary laboratory utilizing cellular/molecular, microbiological, biochemical, and chemical techniques. A long-term focus of his research has been to elucidate the cellular/molecular mechanisms by which novel drugs, devices, and nutraceuticals modulate the excitability state of peripheral and central nervous system neurons and glial cells under pathological conditions. Currently, his laboratory is investigating changes in the GABAergic system in the upper spinal cord and trigeminal ganglion neurons and glia in preclinical models of chronic migraine and temporomandibular (jaw) disorder (TMD). Another focus is on elucidating the sex differences in pain signaling pathways associated with chronic TMD following prolonged or maximum jaw opening, which may occur during yawning, dental/orthodontic procedures, and oral surgery. Dr. Durham is a member of the American Headache Society, International Association for the Study of Pain, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Speaker: Any McGee Jardell Topic: Ozarks Literacy Council
“Literacy-education affects our entire community, we are in this together. Prioritizing literacy for all happens when we help where we can, give what we can and encourage reading everywhere.”
Amy McGee Jardell earned a Master of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership degree from Drury University. She has been the Executive Director of Ozarks Literacy Council since Nov 2018. She has ties to Drury through her own educational experience and through her son and daughter in law, both are 2019 graduates. Supporting education is paramount.
Amy has lived in Springfield for 20 plus years, raised her two sons here and enjoys life in the country with her husband, three cats and a dog.
Speaker: Emily McKinney Topic: Hospice Music Therapy
Emily McKinney, MT-BC, graduated with her bachelor of music therapy from Drury University in 2014 and pioneered the hospice music therapy program with CoxHealth at Home Hospice shortly after graduating and passing the board certification exam for music therapists. Emily has primarily served patients and families facing a terminal diagnosis through her work with hospice, but has also served as a contract therapist for various populations, including senior living facilities, palliative care, and children receiving music therapy services through their school special education programs. Emily is proficient in multiple instruments and still enjoys teaching private music lessons out of her studio in Springfield, Missouri.
Speaker: Jeff Frederick, Ph.D. President, Drury University
Topic: The Future for Drury University
Jeff Frederick serves as the nineteenth President of Drury University. Prior to beginning at Drury in June of 2024, Frederick worked for seventeen years as a Professor of History, Chair, and Dean at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and four years as Provost at Wingate University. He has published, presented, and taught on many aspects of the history of the American South, as well as academic leadership development and current issues in higher education. Frederick holds a Ph.D. in American History from Auburn University, as well as an M.A. in History and a B.S. in Business Administration (Marketing) from the University of Central Florida.
Outside of work, Frederick runs (more slowly each year), rarely passes up an open shot in half-court basketball, writes, reads, and enjoys grilling and smoking barbecue. He is active on several boards that serve the greater Springfield and Ozarks region, believing that all have a responsibility to give back in as many ways as they can. Married to Melinda, he has three sons, Logan (wife Grace), Jack (wife Brittany), and Quinton.
TBA
Presentation Title: The Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival
Presentation Topic: The Missouri Cherry Blossom is an annual festival in Marshfield, Missouri that focuses on the preservation of American History. The festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary has welcomed history makers, authors, historians and cultural icons to the Ozarks. The festival takes place the last full weekend in April each year.
Biographic Information: Rev. Nicholas Inman is the Director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri and a charter member of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Children’s Literature Festival Committee. He serves as a board member of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association. He is a published author and playwright and has dedicated much of his life to the preservation of American History through writing and speaking. He is the chairman and founder of the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri and the Senior Pastor of the Elkland Independent Methodist Church in Elkland, Missouri. He is the current President of the Ozarks Concert Association, Route 66 Repertory Theatre, Mansfield Chamber of Commerce, Wilder Day Planning Committee, Marshfield High School Alumni Association and the Marshfield Veterans Day Parade Committee. He takes pride in serving as an active board member of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation, Vivian Stuber Memorial Library of Niangua, Missouri Center of the Book (MOCFTB-Heartland Book Festival) and Webco Manor Nursing Home. He is the founder of the Marshfield Performing Arts Society (now Marshfield Community Theatre), 4 County Thrift Store and Food Pantry, and the Zuzu House Ministry. He owns and operates the Dickey House in Marshfield, Missouri along with his wife of sixteen years, Sarah Inman. They take great pride in their two children: Reagan and Jackson Inman.
Presentation title: Ozark Jubilee: Recordings, Archives, and an Encyclopedia
Presentation Topic: Tom Peters will provide an overview of the rich corpus that has been developed to document the Ozark Jubilee, a live, weekly, nationally broadcast television program from 1955 to 1960. Every week, over 1,000 people came to the Jubilee Theatre to see the show in person, and approximately 10 million people would watch it on ABC-TV. Copies of his new Ozark Jubilee Encyclopedia will be available to purchase for $20.
Biographic Information: Tom Peters served as Dean of Libraries at Missouri State University from 2012 through 2024. He developed a keen interest in Ozarks history and culture. Now retired, Tom lives in tiny McClurg, Missouri, in NE Taney County, near the Glade Top Trail. McClurg hosts a weekly music jam session on Monday evenings, beginning at 6:30. Peters currently is working on several books, including a book of essays about Route 66, and a biography of Red Foley.
Presentation Title: “We Gave Them Thunder”; Marmaduke’s Raid and the Civil War in Missouri and Arkansas.
Presentation Topic: An overview of an authoritative study of General Marmaduke’s raid into Southwest Missouri, the Battle of Springfield (January 8, 1963), and the Battle of Hartville (January 11, 1863)
Biographic Information: A native of Tennessee, William Garrett Piston retired in 2017 from the Department of History at Missouri State University, where he taught courses on the Civil War and American Military History for twenty-nine years. He is the author, co-author, and editor of numerous books and articles, most focusing on the Civil War in Missouri. His publications include Lee’s Tarnished Lieutenant; James Longstreet and His Place in Southern History, Portraits of Conflict; A Photographic History of Missouri in the Civil War, and “We Gave Them Thunder”; Marmaduke’s Raid and the Civil War in Missouri and Arkansas. He is the current president of the Civil War Round Table of the Ozarks, president of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation, and a member of the board of directors for the Friends of the Missouri State Archives.
Presentation Title: Two Majors and the President: Official Retaliation in the Civil War
Presentation Topic: In 1863, the Union Army instated an eye-for-an-eye retaliation program to deter the uncivil killing of Union troops by Confederates. In the fall of 1864, in the wake of Confederate Major General Sterling Price’s raid through the heart of Missouri, the retaliation program played out in controversial fashion in St. Louis. Dr. Blevins’s presentation takes listeners through the story of the sentencing and execution of Confederate prisoners of war and the reaction of the citizens of St. Louis.
Biographic Information: Brooks Blevins is the Noel Boyd Professor of Ozarks Studies and a member of the history department at Missouri State University. An expert on Ozarks history and culture, he is the author or editor of more than a dozen books, including the trilogy, A History of the Ozarks.
Dr. Bob Lunn
AB in from Psychology from Williams College, MHA (Master of Health Administration) from Duke University, PhD in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel, retired Professor Emeritus of Management, MSU.
“Our grown children…..What Does it Mean to Parent Them?”
Many of us are old enough to have grandchildren or great grandchildren. Despite their ages, they will always be parents to their own children, no matter the children’s’ ages. And they will witness how their children then parent their children. Once a parent, always a parent! This presentation looks at how culture and technology make parenting adult children more challenging than the journey our own parents traveled with us.
Dr. Sara Henary Holifield
PhD from the University of Virginia, MA from University of Virginia, BA from Rhodes College. Currently, Associate Professor, MSU Department of Political Science and Philosophy.
“Timely and Timeless Lessons from Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy’s Best Friend”
As a young aristocratic lawyer, Alexis de Tocqueville and a fellow researcher came to the United States in 1831. During their nine-month visit they conducted interviews with more than 200 people on American politics, law, and social practices. After returning to France, they read hundreds of books and documents while reflecting on what their trip had revealed about the “great democratic revolution” that was transforming the Western world. I wonder what he would have to say about “democracy” in America today.
Artist, Actor, Singer, Director, and Choreographer Rick Atwell
“Art, Theatre, and Transitions in Life”
Rick Atwell’s presentations are dynamic, entertaining, and informative. Currently a well-recognized watercolorist in his ‘retirement,’ Rick spent his working life on Broadway as a dancer, singer, actor, and later as a choreographer and Director. He worked in film, television, video, and commercials with some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars including Sidney Poitier, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Carol, Burnett, Bette White, Hal Linden, and Bonnie Franklin. And that’s just a few of the names he will be dropping as he talks about his extensive and exciting career working with the ‘best of the best.’
Dr. Xiang Guo
AB in Engineering, MBA in Computer Information Systems, PhD in Business Administration and Management Information Systems. Currently serving as Assistant Professor and Department Head of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at MSU.
“Cybersecurity”
Practically every day, we read and/or hear about people, businesses, and other entities being scammed. About personal data and institutional computer systems being held hostage by scammers. The list of cybersecurity issues is extensive. It is about violations of our persons and social structure through technology. At this presentation we will learn much more about cybersecurity from a recognized expert in his field.
Artist Christine K. Schilling
“Mosaics and Public Art – Designed to Move You!”
You may have seen some of Christine’s art as you wondered Springfield. She is well-known for her beautiful and creative mosaics, among other mediums through which she expresses herself. She creates her mosaics by pressing found items like pieces of glass, metal, buttons, etc., into fresh cement or plaster, for example. You are sure to enjoy the energy and passion Christine brings her art.
Dr. Tom Dicke, Professor of History, Missouri State University
“The 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic”
From 1918 to 1919, the Spanish flu infected an estimated 500,000,000 people globally. This amounted to about 33% of the world’s population at the time. In addition, the Spanish flu killed about 50 million people. About 675,000 of the deaths were in the U.S. We are going to learn some of the interesting (and hauntingly familiar) causes and impacts of the flu, especially when viewed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dickie is a nationally recognized expert on the topic of the Spanish flu.
David Burton
“The Good Neighbor Program”
David Burton has been a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension since 2001. He is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, and has gained a national reputation on the topic of “neighboring.” Neighboring encourages citizens to participate in events and activities to establish connections with their neighbors. We’re going to learn about neighboring and its relevance to Springfield.
David Yancey, Former Public Administrator, Greene County, MO
“The Role of the Public Administrator”
When appointed Greene County Public Administrator, Greene County(MO) Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon noted about Yancey that “The individuals and estates entrusted with their affairs through the Public Administrator’s office are in good hands.” We are going to learn about the various important and impactful responsibilities of this government office.
Dr. Mark Rushefsky, Professor of Political Science, MSU (Retired) and
Dr. Dan Ponder, Professor of Political Science, Drury University
For the past several years, Drs. Rushefsky and Ponder have presented at our meetings prior to upcoming national elections for President. Teachers, researchers, consultants, and authors in the field of political science, their insights are offered as neither for or against any candidate or political party and have been helpful in giving us information we need to make informed decisions as to who to vote for.
September 3, 2024
Dr. David Jerome
“Examining War and Conflict Around the World”
To thoroughly explore war and conflict, one must consider why the people and the leaders of the world behave the way that they do toward one another. In Dr. Jerome’s co-edited book Examining War and Conflict around World, each chapter addresses a specific issue relating to war and conflict as it pertains to a variety of countries, including anti-Americanism, military robots and drones, nuclear weapons and proliferation, and torture. The book provides a historical perspective, but addresses each of these issues in a contemporary context.
September 10, 2024
Dr. Michael D. Reed, Distinguished Professor of Physics, Astronomy and Materials Science, MSU
“Peering inside evolving stars.”
Dr. Reed’s research focuses on pulsating stars and extrasolar planets, like the one his team discovered. Also called an exoplanet, it was a planet orbiting an evolved star. Given efforts by humans to learn more about (and possibly inhabit?) other planets, this presentation is timely and being delivered by a renowned astrophysicist. With a PhD. in Astrophysics from Iowa State University, and a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Washington, Dr. Reed has a wealth of information and insights to share with us.
September 17, 2024
Dr. Staci Rogers, MD, OB/GYN and Chief Transformation Officer for CoxHealth
“Preparing for the Future of Healthcare”
Dr. Rogers joined Cox/health in 2008 as an OB/GYN physician. Since 2021, she has served as the organization’s Chief Transformation Officer. Dr. Roger’s prior leadership roles within the CoxHealth organization include Chief Clinical Integration Officer, and System Medical Director for Women’s Health. She continues to practice as a faculty OB/GYN physician for the CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency Program. How can we prepare for what the future will bring in term of health care? Attend TILL are find out!
September 24, 2024
Dr. Bukola Adeyeni Oyeniyi, Assoc Professor of History, MSU
“African culture as exhibited in dress and how dress constructs individual and group identity.”
Dr. Oyeniyi has had a very successful career in academics and has produced several significant publications in his area of research. In his book, Dress in the Making of African Identity: A Social and Cultural History of the Yorùbá People, Dr. Oyeniyi examines the history of Yorubaland (including modern-day Nigeria, Togo, and Benin) as seen through dress and the history of Yorùbá dress, especially its place in the construction of Yorùbá ethno-national identity.
July 2, 2024
Dr. Robert Lunn, B.A., M.A., PhD
“Six Decades of Changes in Healthcare: The lives we’ve lived!”
(Please read the “NOTE” above.)
Few parts of the United States services sector have undergone as much change in the last six decades has healthcare, which now makes up close to 20% of our gross domestic product. Many forces at all levels have impacted how care is delivered, received, and funded. What was “normal calling” is now regarded as an “industry”. Most of us have lived through these decades of change and have been impacted personally by this evolution in healthcare. In his presentation today, Lunn will review pros and cons of major historical changes.
July 9, 2024
Aaron Jones, Executive Vice President for University Relations and General Counsel, Interim Chief Operations Office
“Drury University’s 150th Anniversary and the History Behind those 150 years.”
(Please read the “NOTE” above.)
Before his current position as Executive Vice President for University Relations and General Counsel, Jones served as chief of staff to the President and prior to that, as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Continuing Professional Studies. Today, Jones is responsible for collaborating with the president and all institutional stakeholders to improve unity, decisiveness and empowerment through communications, coordination, and transparency across the university. He serves as the university’s general counsel.
July 16, 2024
Dr. Jerry Fenwick, MD, FAAEM
“The History of Military Medicine from the Romans to COVID and Beyond.”
(Please read note “NOTE” above.)
Dr. Fenwick retired as a major general from the United States Air Force, Air National Guard in June 2021. His final assignments were as Joint Surgeon for the National Guard Bureau, Surgeon General of the National Guard, and Air National Guard Assistant to the Surgeon General of the United States. He has been board-certified in emergency medicine since 1995. His civilian experience includes over 24 years in clinical emergency medicine, emergency medical transport, and tactical medicine. He is a previously sworn reserve police officer and functioned as the Technical Medical Director of two departments with over 400 officers.
July 23, 2024
Natalie Allen, Registered Dietician, Missouri State University
“Nutrition to enhance performance and function as we age.”
(Please read the “NOTE” above.)
Natalie has a background in clinical, community, and sports dietetics. She started her career at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis working clinically with patients to improve their health through diet. She has also worked as a curriculum writer and educator for St. Louis schools, has been a face and voice of dietetics in the media, and consults with various sports teams on nutrition. She has worked with athletes of all abilities, from Special Olympians to professional athletes.
July 30, 2024
Dr. Bryan C. Brinkman, Assistant Professor of History, Missouri State University
“Gods and Emperors: Communicating with the Powerful in Ancient Rome”
(Please read the “NOTE” above.)
Dr. Brinkman is a scholar of the ancient world, especially the Roman Empire. His areas of research include ancient religion and cultural interaction in the ancient Mediterranean. He is co-editor of the volume Beyond Egypt: Relations and Imaginations of the Ancient Past (2022), and he is currently writing Life in Antiquity: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece, and Rome (under contract with Routledge).
June 4, 2024
Dr. Ashley E. Leinweber, Professor of Political Science at MSU
Every nation on Earth has a history of course, and the history of Africa is one of the more fascinating and timely ones. Dr. Leinweber will be sharing with us some of the historical aspects of colonial rule of Africa, the African independence movement, and current influence wielded upon Africa by Russia and China. Dr. Leinweber is affiliated with several national organizations including the African Politics Conference Group, the Islam in Africa Studies Group, and the Central African Studies Association. This promises to be both an informative and timely presentation.
June 11, 2024
Kerry Miller, Founder and Manager of Volunteers Services for Wellness for Warriors
The focus of the Wellness for Warriors program is to provide our men and women in uniform, veterans, first responders and healthcare professionals the care and attention they deserve and often need. Since 2016 the program has grown by over 700% and is now operating 24/7. Today’s topic will be heartwarming as well as informative. Kerry Miller is the past President for the Missouri Association of Hospital Volunteer Resource Professionals. He also happens to be a comedian and ventriloquist and has performed across the United States for churches and corporations. This presentation will be both heartwarming, informative, and entertaining.
June 18, 2024
Susan Croce Kelly, Author and Historian
The topic of today’s presentation is one that is close to Susan Croce Kelly’s heart. Kelly is the author of several books including Newspaper Woman of the Ozarks: The Life and Times of Lucile Morris Upton. Before the word Ozarks was synonymous with the idea of goofy hillbillies, fast boats, and family vacations, it was a place where real people lived their lives day-to-day and learned about the world from their local newspapers. A budding journalist in 1923, Lucile Morris Upton wrote stories of the Ozarks. One hundred years later, author Susan Croce Kelly brought Upton’s life to a new generation in her latest book that captures the excitement of being on the front lines of news gathering and the development of the Ozarks. Today’s presentation will take us back in time to explore the life and times of Lucile Morris Upton.
June 25, 2024
Dr. Michael Suttmoeller, MSU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Among topics of considerable interest to Americans for the past several years are the work of Homeland Security and the problem of terrorism with which it deals. Some twenty-two federal agencies were once somewhat disconnected. They included agencies such as FEMA, TSA, Immigration Services, the Coast Guard, Border Protection, and others. In November of 2002, however, they were all combined under the newly-created United States Department of Homeland Security. Prior to entering his academic career, Dr. Suttmoeller worked in law-enforcement and had many encounters with far-right extremists, namely, white supremacist, and sovereign citizens (a political movement of people to oppose taxation and question the legitimacy of our government). It was also during that time that both the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina occurred. Both events triggered chaotic responses from law-enforcement, even in Missouri. Today’s topic will focus on the work of Homeland Security and how the agencies address the problem of terrorism.
March 5, 2024
Lisa Bakerink, President of Sister Cities.
Springfield Sister Cities Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people of the City of Springfield and people of similar cities in foreign nations acquire a consciousness of each other and to understand one another as individuals, as members of their community, and as part of our global community. Our relationship with Springfield’s sister cities of Iseaski,Japan and Tlaquepaque, Mexico enhance our local culture (and our Mizumoto Stroll Garden) and will be part of the presentation today.
March 12, 2024
Karen Scott from Springfield’s Lost and Found program.
Karen S. Scott is the Co-Founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Lost & Found Grief center in Springfield. MO. She led the non-profit from its inception to its current position of a thriving, comprehensive grief center with a full range of support for the bereaved ages 4-90 and those dealing with terminal illness. Dr. Scott is an expert in grief and trauma and has more than 30 years’ experience as a therapist, trainer, speaker, and writer.
March 19, 2024
Tommy Goode, Moral Injury.
Mr. Goode is the President and Founding Director of the Moral Institute in Billings, MO. He is the Organizer and Director of the Moral Injury Institute, City Core Initiative, Urban Training Institute of the Southwest, Mississippi River Ministry, Appalachian Regional Ministry, and Stand in the Gap Missouri.
March 26, 2024
Katiina Dull, Executive Director, Springfield’s Child Advocacy Center.
The Child Advocacy Center serves an important role in identifying and prosecuting child abuse, and helping young victims heal from their painful experiences. It is the largest child advocacy center in the state of Missouri, serving 14 counties in the southwest and south-central regions of the state. The Center is a safe place, designed to make children feel comfortable and at ease as they progress through the steps that are necessary for their cases to move forward.
April 2, 2024
Gayle Harper, Author and Adventurer
Gayle Harper is a well-known local photographer. She will tell of the adventures she had and the people she met as described in her 2014 book “Roadtrip with a Raindrop.’ It is about her journey from the headwaters of the Mississippi down to the Gulf of Mexico. Her presentation will include a related video. Gayle’s journey was spectacular, as has been the reception her book has received since being published in 2014.
April 9, 2024
Dr. Brittany Allen, PhD, ABPP-CN, MBA
Memory loss will be the topic of Dr. Allen’s presentation. Dr. Allen She completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a Neuropsychology emphasis at Saint Louis University in 2008 and finished with her postdoctoral residency in Neuropsychology at the University of Missouri in 2010. She earned board certification in Clinical Neuropsychology in 2012 and is currently one of only two board certified neuropsychologists in the southwest Missouri.
April 16, 2024
Danielle Kincaid, Attorney
National Health Care Decisions Day is April 16 each year. Danielle will be speaking on the importance of having a document in place to express one’s wishes regarding treatment. This can be in emergency situations, or it can be end of life care. Danielle is a partner in the law firm The Elder Law Group LLC which operates here in Springfield, MO.
April 23, 2024
Jarrod Smith, Pro Pickleball player and Head Coach at Drury University
At the time of his designation as the head coach at Drury, Smith played pickleball for almost a decade, playing professional tournaments for many of those years. Highlights of his career have been a Men’s Doubles National Title and a Mixed Doubles National Title, both in 2021. Whether you play pickleball or not this should be a very enjoyable presentation.
April 30, 2024
Jan Farr, Cofounder of Generations Village
By 2021, there were nearly 700 children in foster care in Greene County, MO. Generations Village is a concept in development to create a community that includes foster children living in proximity to seasoned adults which is a potentially healthier environment than many foster children currently experience.
Barbara Vicente, Basket Weaver Extraordinaire!
Barbara is a member of the Ozark Mountain Basket Weavers Guild and the Missouri Basket Wavers, and has more than 30-years experience creating beautiful baskets, some of which will be on display. She will be telling us about the history of baskets, the weaving materials and tools that are used, and some of the popular styles of basket weaving. This is sure to be an interesting and informative presentation about a cherished traditional art form by an expert craftsperson.
Martha Langdon Henslee, Licensed Massage Therapist
Since 1986, Marty has been a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) here in Springfield. She graduated from the Boulder School of Massage Therapy of Boulder, Colorado in 1984, earned her B.A. from Middlebury College, and a M.A. degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, and received her certification in Reflexology in 2003. She will be demonstrating and telling us about the importance of our fascia – the thin casing of tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in our body in place. Fascia does more than provide internal structure; it has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin. And when it is stressed, it tightens up. We need to know about this!
Katie Keith (Steinhof), Botanical Center Coordinator, Springfield-Greene County Park Board
If you have visited the 112 acre Botanical Center with its Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, Master Gardener’s garden, Drummond Lake, rose garden, hosta garden, and beautiful fountains, then you know we are in for a terrific presentation today by its Coordinator. If you haven’t already visited the Botanical Center, it belongs on your bucket list! According to TripAdvisor, it is the most popular place to visit in Springfield, MO!
Nate Schlueter, Chief Visionary Officer, Eden Village, Springfield, MO
Eden Village is a first of its kind tiny home community that originated in Springfield. It is a positive and successful response to the unhoused population we have been facing for many years in our community. Eden Village is designed to serve the vulnerable population of chronically disabled homeless individuals. These individuals are moved into their own tiny home which is surrounded by a community of people with similar experiences. The property also houses a large community center where members of the community can come together in a healthy and positive setting. The concept behind Eden Village is being replicated throughout the country as a vital and needed answer to the unhoused population. As of this writing, there are now three Eden Villages in Springfield!
February 6, 2024
Diana Flannigan, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
As Volunteer Coordinator and Assistant Director of the Math and Reading Buddy Program, she coordinates senior volunteers as they help Pre-k through third graders develop the social, emotional, and literacy skills needed to be successful in school and in life. More broadly, the RSVP program offers many other programs for those in need of services.
February 13, 2024
Nelson Knapp, President, Pet Therapy of the Ozarks.
Mr. Knapp will be visiting us along with two of his “team” members (dogs). Knapp has been with Pet Therapy of the Ozarks for 14 years, first with Pippin for 8 years, and now with Lenny, both Standard Poodles. “Pet Therapy of the Ozarks is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Missouri Corporation organized in 1991 to provide emotional therapy visits to hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, schools, and other facilities.
February 20, 2024
Lisa Langley and Ann Elwell, League of Women Voters.
Lisa will speak on Informed Voter Coalition and the process to engage voters and provide credible information to assist voters in casting their votes at the ballot box. Ann will talk about key legislation being debated in the Missouri General Assembly this session; especially with regard to initiative petition process and access to voting.
February 27, 2024
Alan Peak, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), retired.
Alan Peak recently retired from a decades-long career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He will be discussing several aspects of his career including training, the jurisdiction of the FBI as regards other law enforcement agencies, and the several duty stations he served during his career. This should prove to be a very interesting presentation.
Dean Thompson, Executive Director – Regionalism and Economic Development, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Thompson will be speaking on the economic outlook for the city of Springfield and the surrounding area.
Brian Fogle, Community Foundation of the Ozarks
Fogle will speak on the history of the CFO and its impact on local and regional community projects.
Marideth Sisco, Ozark historian, raconteur, and collector of folk songs and stories.
Sisco will speak on her understanding of the unique Ozark culture and share her experiences representing the Ozarks at the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.
Helen Benziger
Benziger is the great-granddaughter of Margaret Tobin Brown, familiarly known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown. She will speak as an expert on her great-grandmother’s legacy and on matters pertaining to the tragic sinking of the H.M.S. Titanic. The sinking was of interest to people in multiple countries and could be labeled as one of the first global disasters to involve a full strata of society.
Dr. Susan Robinson, Professor
Physical Therapy Department, Missouri State University
Dr. Robinson helped develop the Physical Therapy Program at Missouri State University, joining the faculty in 1998. Her research interests include the treatment of individuals with vestibular (inner ear) issues affecting balance and examining the risk of falling in older adults. In her former career, she was a professional classical musician (violist) and has a special interest in helping musicians with injuries related to playing their instruments. Dr. Robinson will discuss strategies on how to maintain and improve balance as well as how to decrease fall risks.
Lois Zerrer, Attorney at Law, Retired
Zerrer recently had the opportunity to travel to Italy with members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra when they presented several concerts this year. She will share her experiences of visiting major cities in Italy and her perceptions of current international travel.
Dr. David Jerome
Dr. Jerome is a retired army officer and adjunct professor of political science at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. His baseball research interests include former Major League Baseball pitching great Preacher Roe, of Northern Arkansas and West Plains, Missouri, and legendary New York Yankees scout Tom Greenwade formerly of Willard, Missouri. He will speak about the life and career of baseball great, Bill Virdon.
Kaitlyn McConnell, Ozarks Alive
McConnell is the founder and editor of the website, Ozarks Alive, and is the author of numerous books about the Ozarks area. She has served as chair of Springfield’s Landmarks Board and as president of the Webster County Historical Society. She was a member of the curatorial team celebrating Ozarks history and culture in Washington DC at the 2023 Smithsonian Folk life Festival. She will speak on Ozarks Ghost Stories.
Thomas J. Carlson
Mr. Carlson, founder and publisher of The Springfield Daily Citizen, attorney and businessman. He was the longest-serving mayor of Springfield, serving 14 years over seven non-consecutive terms between 1988 and 2009. He also served on the Board of Governors of Missouri State University. He has served on a litany of nonprofit boards and organizations and was recently inducted into the 2023 Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame. He will speak on the importance of local news.
John Jones, Retired Secret Service, Special Agent
Jones spent twenty plus years employed by the U.S. Secret Service. He will speak on the duality of the responsibilities as an Agent. As a Special Agent, his assignments included the Dallas Field Office, the Carter Protection Division, and the Austin Field Office.
Dr. Carol Miller, Professor, Missouri State University. Miller is in her 40th year of teaching environmental law and business law at Missouri State University (MSU), where she has the rank of Distinguished Professor. Among her 30+ awards are the campus wide MSU Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award, the MSU Foundation Excellence Research Award (4 times), the Board of Governors’ Public Affairs Award and the Missouri Lawyers Weekly’s Women’s Justice Legal Scholar Award. Professor Miller recently received the 2023 national business law professors’ Distinguished Career Achievement Award at the national meeting of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) in San Diego.
She will be sharing her expertise on recent court cases on reducing the effects of lead poisoning in our environment. The 2021 American Rescue Plan and the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law earmarked over $35 billion to upgrade lead lines and fund the Safe Drinking Water Act. Lead poisoning is particularly problematic for children under the age of six. It can damage the development of the brain and central nervous system, causing learning disabilities and behavioral problems for life. Lead is ubiquitous in older homes and products.
Dr. John Chuchiak, Distinguished Professor, Department of History and Director of the Honors College; Missouri State University
Dr. Chuchiak is a recognized expert of both Maya Culture and the history of the Mexican Inquisition. His knowledge area includes the history of Spanish Conquest and Colonization and its impact on Mesoamerica’s indigenous peoples.
Chuchiak will speak on the rise of the rise piracy events in current history.
Rebecca Thomas, Southwest Missouri Director, International Institute of Missouri.
The International Institute of Missouri provides programs and services for immigrant families who relocate to the Springfield area. By providing first-contact services, they engage foreign-born and the wider community members thus building a more inclusive community.
Thomas will be speaking on the upcoming “CultureFest,” an event designed to offer cultural diversity in Springfield scheduled for September 30, and she will share the many stories of immigrant acculturation in the Springfield community.
No speaker or meeting is scheduled. All Institute for Lifelong Learner members are encouraged to enjoy Independence Day celebrations.
Mr. David Eslick, a local Springfield historian, photographer, and retired meat cutter. He was an active founder of the Route 66 Festival, which will be returning in August this summer.
Topic: The history of grocery stores in Springfield MO.
Have you driven through the older neighborhoods in Springfield and wondered about the occasional small odd-looking buildings that are obviously not residential buildings and wondered why they were built? These small buildings were often family-owned grocery stores that preceded the chain of grocery stores we patronize now. Eslick will detail the unique history of Springfield grocery stores.
Michael Frizell, MFA, Director of Student Learning Services, the Writing Center, Missouri State University. Frizell holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Arkansas. He writes biographies of the famous and infamous in addition to several fiction titles for TidalWave Comics and writes the forwards to the re-releases of Harold Robbins novels for Oghma Creative Media. His graphic novel, Bender, was released in 2018.
Topic: The Arcane Art of Writing Comic Books a/k/a/The Graphic Novel
Once vilified in his book, Seduction of the Innocent, published in 1954, Fredric Wertham, a German American psychiatrist, claimed he discovered a curable cause of illiteracy, sex crimes, homosexuality, and juvenile delinquency: Ban comic books. Sadly, the stigma exists today, with many readers – and writers – eschewing comic books with the claim they are not literary enough. Comic books and the merchandising surrounding the characters found in them are big business, and authors are finding joy in the challenge of writing for a primarily visual medium.
Ms. Regina Greer Cooper, Executive Director, Springfield-Greene County Library.
Cooper has been the executive director of the Springfield-Greene County library system for fourteen years. Her bachelor of art in education is from the University of Mississippi and her Masters in Library Science was earned at the George Peabody College for Teachers.
Topic: Current challenges facing libraries today and how local librarians are dealing with those issues.
Ellen Duvall, US Navy veteran
Topic: A History of Navy Nurses Primarily During Wartime
Ellen Duvall was a nurse for 40 years. Joining the Navy during her senior year at the University of Minnesota, she entered active duty at Philadelphia Naval Hospital and then served in Viet Nam aboard the USS Sanctuary. She left the navy for civilian nursing, married, and several years later, joined the Navy Reserve and served in the US armed forces during Desert Storm. She and husband Bob moved to Springfield in 1990 and celebrated their 50th anniversary a few months before his death. She was a faculty member for 15 years of her career at the Burge School of Nursing (later Cox College).
John Sellars, Executive Director, Emeritus, The History Museum
Topic: Springfield: Then and Now.
Sellars was the first Director of the History Museum on the Square, Springfield MO. He guided the museum through many changes and expansions and remains one of the best commentators of Springfield history.
Dr. Steve Berkwitz, Professor of Religious Studies, Missouri State University.
Berkwitz is an expert in religious studies with a special focus on South Asian religions. He is the department head of Religious Studies at Missouri State University. He serves on several editorial boards and has received fellowships to conduct research in Sri Lanka, Germany and Portugal. He holds several professional memberships relating to Asian Studies and Buddhism.
Topic: Reading Buddhism in America
Buddhism has been translated to fit a western context. The Western Dharma book, a book written for westerners that translates and adapts the Dharma into a form that is more understandable and appealing to them has become a chief way to present Buddhism to Americans. We will consider what messages are conveyed in these books, and what they tell us about American religious ideas and preferences.
Sue Schuble, Retired high school basketball coach, and Environmentalist and World traveler.
Since retiring from coaching women’s basketball in the Springfield Public Schools, Schuble has spent her time volunteering at the Dickerson Park Zoo, The Greater Ozark Audubon Society and other causes related to ecological preservation of our environment.
Topic: Svalbard: Norway’s Northern Archipelago
Schuble traveled in 2022 to Norway’s Archipelago on a Linblad/National Geographic ship. Sites visited included those along the western coast of Norway, then they circumvented the archipelago, seeing several polar bears, other Arctic animals and thousands of seabirds.
Patti Hobbs, Certified Genealogist®
Topic: DNA Testing: Separating Fact from Fiction: What DNA tests are available? What company should I use? What do I do with the test results? Is it all about ethnicity? Patti will answer these questions and more.
Patti Lee Hobbs, Certified Genealogist®, is a lifetime member and past president of the Ozarks Genealogical Society. She has been actively involved by serving in the positions of webmaster, treasurer, and Education Committee chair. She serves on the editorial board for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and is a former trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists and current trustee of the BCG Education Fund. Patti is the coordinator for the weeklong courses “Genetics for Genealogists: Beginning DNA” at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). Her article “DNA Identifies a Father for Rachel Lee of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania” was published in the March 2017 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and she is a contributing author of Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies.
Jenny Fillmer Edwards, Public Information Administrator, Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Springfield-Greene County Park Board, 1923 N. Weller Ave.
Springfield, MO 65803, office: 417-864-1049 parks@parkboard.org
Topic: Current information about Springfield park sites, trails and facilities.
The Springfield-Greene County Park Board operates and maintains more than 100 park sites, trails and facilities in Springfield and unincorporated Greene County ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to multi-use recreation centers. The system includes three golf courses, three family centers, a zoo, a farm park, a botanical center, several sports-athletic complexes, two indoor aquatic centers, six outdoor swimming pools, multiple School-Park sites and more than 100 miles of recreational trails.
Brent Johnson, Greene County Missouri Assessor
Topic: Understanding the Greene County Assessor office and the services it provides to Greene county residents.
The Assessor is a countywide elected office with a four-year term. Mr. Johnson has been the County Assessor since 2021. As an elected official, the Assessor is responsible for developing and maintaining a current list of all taxable real and tangible personal property in Greene County and assessing the property annually. Assessed valuation provides the tax base for property taxes levied by the County and its various political subdivisions. The Assessor’s Office processes annual business and personal assessment lists for all tangible personal property to Greene County residents. The Assessor also performs tax mapping by maintaining and updating property lines based upon warranty deeds received from the Greene County Recorder of Deeds. Johnson is an experienced GIS Professional (GISP), which is the use of geographic information systems. He has over 20 years of experience in geospatial technologies including remote sensing, photogrammetry, cartography and global positioning systems (GPS). Mr. Johnson has extensive work experience in multiple aspects of geospatial technologies including both the private and public sectors. He is a Certified GIS Professional (GISP) and Former Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). He is currently the Chairman of the ESRI International Retail Special Interest Group and has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and is a former member of the GIS Professional (GISP) Certification applicant review committee.
Jacqueline Tygart, Associate Librarian & Art Collection Curator, Drury University
Topic: TILL members will meet in the art collection workroom (012) across the lobby from our usual meeting room to see art that is not currently on display around campus. Tygart will tell us about the cooperation between Drury’s collection and the fledgling museum studies program at MSU that has mutually benefitted both schools.
Jacqueline Tygart has been at Drury since 1987 and Associate Librarian since 2005. Tygart is the library liaison to the Hammons School of Architecture and the Departments of Art and Art History and Behavioral Sciences. She develops various collections and provides instructional and research support to students and faculty in those disciplines. Since 2011, Tygart has also served as the curator of Drury’s art collection, and in collaboration with faculty and students in the computer information systems program, launched an online portal to the collection at http://artcollection.drury.edu. Tygart holds a BFA in ceramics and textiles and was co-founder of Burnt Mud Pottery where she actively participated in the business for twenty years until it closed. She earned her MLIS from the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Missouri – Columbia. When not in the library or a classroom, you can find her in her studio or hiking at Two Rivers Bike Park in the hills near her home.
Dr. Lyle Foster, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Missouri State University
Topic: The African-American Heritage Trail in Greene County Missouri.
The Mission of the Springfield-Greene County African American Heritage Trail is to continue to research and publish previously undocumented history and to involve the Springfield community in the identification and celebration of the contributions made by people of African descent to the community. A descriptive plaque has been placed at each of these local sites.
Dr. Foster, the recipient of the 2019-2020 Excellence in Public Affairs Award from Missouri State University, uses his academic and entrepreneurial expertise to address issues of social justice, inclusive excellence and individual empowerment. His passions as an educator and community advocate are fueled through his belief in the power of education and his capacity to teach critical thinking skills and build collaborative relationships.
April 4, 2023
Ashley Reynolds, KYTV Reporter and Executive Producer of “On Your Side Consumer Stories.”
Topic: Original stories that impact public safety, consumer wallet and public health.
Ashley Reynolds is an award-winning broadcast journalist whose consumer investigative reporting skills have been recognized with three regional Emmy awards and a regional Edward R. Murrow award. Reynolds has also won several awards from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and Kansas City Press Club. Ashley was born and raised in the Ozarks and graduated from Hillcrest High School and the University of Missouri with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
April 11, 2023
Paul Williams, Springfield MO Police Chief
Topic: A Review of the recently completed Springfield Police Department annual Report.
Chief Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Michigan University and later his master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Northeastern Oklahoma State University. His law enforcement education has been enriched with additional participation in the Senior Management Institute for Police and the 207th Session of the FBI National Academy. He has taught in various criminal justice programs in the Springfield area. He’s active in various Springfield civic organizations and has a history of holding informal “Chats with the Chief” at local restaurants. He’s been Springfield’s Chief of Police since July 2010.
April 18, 2023
Kristene Sutluff, Professor Emeriti of English, Missouri State University
Topic: Queen of the Hillbillies: Writings of May Kennedy McCord.
Sutluff is co-editor with Patti McCord of Queen of the Hillbillies: Writings of May Kennedy McCord, University of Arkansas Press, 2022.
Sutluff began her academic career as a student then Southwest Missouri State University. Following teaching stints elsewhere she returned to MSU and directed the Technical and Professional Writing program from 1979 until she retired from the University in 2016. A native of the Ozarks, Sutluff enjoyed getting to know May Kennedy McCord’s words through working with her granddaughter, Patti McCord. The book they created is a compilation of McCord’s columns, articles and stories. McCord was one of the best-known Ozarks folklorists during her lifetime.
April 25, 2023
Steve Pokin, Staff writer, Springfield (MO) Daily Citizen
Topic: Stories detailing his recent investigative reporting on the unusual stories in the Springfield area.
Pokin received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has worked for various newspapers including Greater St. Louis Journals and was recognized as Journalist of the Year in 2009 based on a cross-section of 10 Pokin Around columns. Steve worked for nine and a half years at the News-Leader here in Springfield and is currently a staff writer for the on-line Springfield Daily Citizen.
March 7
Mr. Rick Dines, Managing Artistic Director, Springfield Contemporary Theatre (SCT)
Topic: The history of the Springfield Contemporary Theatre, the impact of the pandemic and the exciting plans for the theatre’s future.
Now in its 27th season, SCT’s Managing Artistic Director Rick has directed over 60 plays. In addition, Rick’s directing credits also include productions in New York City, Kansas City, and elsewhere. Rick is also a performer most recently seen at SCT in the title role in Sweeney Todd.
March 14
Dr. Lloyd Smith, Professor of Computer Sciences, MSU and a Member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Topic: What is Artificial Intelligence and “ChatGPT” and what promise or threat to they present to our way of life?
As you may know, ChatGPT is one of the latest programs available on the Internet which creates text as though written by a human being. It can write term, letters, and much more.
March 21
Mr. Steve Pokin. Staff writer, Springfield Daily Citizen. He’s just “Pokin’ around!”
Topic: Steve will share stories of his recent investigative reporting on the unusual happenings in the Springfield area.
As a long-time journalist, Steve’s ventures into the Ozarks often result in interesting facts becoming well-known. He also has a passion for delving into matters of crime.
Bio: Steve received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has worked for various newspapers including Greater St. Louis Journals, and was recognized as Journalist of the Year in 2009. He worked for nine and a half years at Springfield’s News-Leader and currently serves as the Springfield Life Columnist for the on-line Springfield Daily Citizen.
March 28
Lance Luria. M.D., F.A.C.P., A.B.O.I.M. Internal Medicine Specialist and President of the Institute of Integrative Pain Management
Topic: What is integrative medicine and why is it such an important aspect of health care?
Integrative medicine is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient. [It] focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals, and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.
Bio: Luria is a graduate of Boston University of Medicine and has been affiliated with The Cleveland Clinic, Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, and other well-respected medical institutions.
October 4 – Cynthia Moore, MFA Adjunct Art instructor at MSU and OTC
“The Shakespeare Authorship Question” Did Shakespeare write Shakespeare? Yes, of course! But who was the person behind the name? Did the name refer to the man from Stratford-upon-Avon or could it have been a pen name used by another writer? Cynthia has been studying the topic for over 20 years. She will survey the clues and lay out the evidence for and against the suspects in what has been called the world’s greatest literary mystery.
October 11 – Sherry Buchanan, Ph.D., co-president of the League of Women Voters of Southwest.
Sherry will share information about HB 1878 which significantly changes several rules about voting in Missouri. She will also provide an overview of the League’s purposes and priorities.
October 18 – Dan Ponder, L.E. Meador Professor of Political Science, Drury University
The 2022 Mid-Term Elections-Part 1 This first presentation will examine the 2022 Midterms, placing the current political situation in context. Partisan polarization, which has been growing for several decades but particularly since 2000, makes it difficult for bipartisanship to take hold in the United States and makes elections increasingly predictable. This talk will examine midterm elections in historical perspective, what the recent round of redistricting, in Missouri and across the country, might mean for party fortunes in November. External factors such as President Biden, ex-President Trump, the economy, turnout, and the turn toward the 2024 presidential election, will be considered. Missouri State University Political Scientist Mark Rushefsky will join Dan Ponder in discussing the summary and answering questions
October 25 – Mark Rushefsky, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, Missouri State University and member of IML
The 2022 Mid-Term Elections-Part 2 Mark will focus his presentation on policy issues that are facing the country and may impact the2022 elections at all levels. These issues include: abortion and reproductive rights, the economy, the war in Ukraine, culture wars, the Covid epidemic, crime and guns, education, and LGBTQ. It ends with a summary of the 2022 mid-terms elections that will come in a few short weeks, November 8th. Drury Political Science Professor Dan Ponder will join MSU Professor Emeritus Mark Rushefsky in discussing the summary and answering questions.
September 6 – Kyle Wiley Pickett, Music Director – Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Kyle will give an overview of the 2022-2023 Symphony season running September through May that includes both classical and pop concerts with this year’s theme “Swipe Right – It’s a Match!” all to be held at Juanita K. Hammons Hall. You will also learn how our Springfield Symphony was one of very few Orchestras that continued to perform during COVID.
September 13 – Kai Sutton, President – Springfield NAACP
Kai will touch on being an active member of the community, the urgency to use your voice, and what issues the NAACP is focusing on and how students can join.
September 20 – David Stoecker, Clinical Supervisor – Preferred Family Healthcare
“Opioid Epidemic” want to learn more about opioids, why so many people are dying from them and how to save someone’s life? Don’t miss this presentation!
September 27 – Carol Miller, Distinguished Professor – Missouri State University
Carol will provide several examples of endangered species and efforts to save them. She will discuss her Mississippi visit to the long-leaf pine forest which provides necessary habitat for the endangered Dusky Gopher frog and the keystone species, the Gopher tortoise and much more.
July 5 – No meeting due to 4th of July holiday
July 12
Larry Woods, CEM – Director, Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management
Emergency Preparedness: Living Your Best Disaster Life.
Are You Prepared for Disaster? Make an Emergency Action Plan
When a disaster strikes, it’s too late to plan. Being prepared means planning ahead of time for you and your family. Regularly discuss the plan with your family, and update the plan as needs or circumstances change.
July 19
Kenda Burnham, Sr. Director Donor Recruitment, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks
Kenda will present compelling information about the importance of blood donation and the impact it has on our community. There will be some fun trivia to test your knowledge about blood donation, blood types and more. CBCO will also share a touching story from a local recipient who’s alive today thanks to generous blood donors. Find out what you can do to make a difference in your community.
July 26
Ilace Mears, Hammered Dulcimer Musician
Today’s hammered dulcimer is not your grandmother’s zither – nor is it a mountain dulcimer. With roots in ancient Persia, this versatile instrument lends itself well to a broad spectrum of musical styles. Learn about its evolution and listen to its expressive potential from Bach to Old-Time Mountain and Three Dog Night. Ilace is the 2016 Hammered Dulcimer National Champion and has declared her 17-year love of the instrument “the best mid-life crisis ever!
Presentations are held from 2-3 pm each Tuesday in Olin Library, lower level.
Institute for Mature Learners Curriculum
June 7
Missouri Courts, Judicial Branch of Government, Judge Jason Brown
In this engaging and interactive program, Greene County Circuit Judge Jason Brown will discuss three landmark cases addressing the extent to which the First Amendment’s free speech clause protects student speech, and, whether schools can regulate and discipline their students for speech that is generated off-campus, using social media. Two of the cases made their way to the U.S. Supreme Court, one of which was decided only a year ago. Come join this discussion and share your opinions! “
June 14
University of Missouri – Extension, Amber Allen, Field Specialist in Human Development & Family Science
“Keep Your Keys” Amber will discuss how to stay medically and physically fit to drive, when and how to prepare for “driving retirement” and other tools and resources to help keep you safe on the road.
June 21
Council of Churches, Tina Miller, Director of Math & Reading Buddy Programs
Starting next school year (2022-23), our Math & Reading Buddy volunteers can be any age. We still have our AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers as the majority of our “Buddies,” but we are hoping to engage volunteers of all ages. There is a need for Math & Reading Buddy volunteers in our local schools, learn what Buddies do, what the program hopes to accomplish, and how to volunteer.
June 28
Springfield Daily Citizen, Tom Carlson, Former Mayor who spearheaded the launch of the news site to help fill the void being left by traditional for-profit news organizations in the area.
David Stoeffler, former executive editor of the Springfield News-Leader, who is the President and CEO.
Springfield Daily Citizen is community’s newest news source — A new, independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan source of news for Springfield and Greene County launched in mid-February. The Springfield Daily Citizen is a digital-only source of news, focusing on in-depth coverage of local issues and on providing a daily slice of life in Springfield and the area. The staff of 11, including 8 journalists, is housed at Missouri State University. Learn about the background on the Daily Citizen and its goals to inform the community and be a catalyst for good in this presentation from Tom and David.
March 22
Sara Forhetz, Lead Reporter/National Spokesperson & Ethan Forhetz, VP Public Engagement/National Spokesperson ~ Convoy of Hope
After 15 years on television as news anchors on KY3, Ethan and Sara Forhetz left the broadcast industry in 2021 to work for Springfield-based Convoy of Hope. Convoy is a faith-based international relief organization with a driving passion to feed the world. With a long history as an early responder in times of natural disasters, Convoy of Hope has been a Four-Star Charity as recognized by Charity Navigator since 2002. Convoy of Hope has served more than 193 million people since it was founded in 1994. Please join us as they share the mission of this organization.
March 29
Erika Schwartz, Holocaust Survivor and IML member
Erika was born in a Hungarian Nazi ghetto in April 1944. Of the entire family, Erika and her mother were the sole survivors of the Holocaust. She will recount the story of the murder of her entire family and how she was able to change her life from one of depression and anger to daily celebrations of gratitude and joy.
April 5
Jessica Luras, Guest Advocate & Volunteer Coordinator ~ “Safe to Sleep-More than a homeless shelter”
Safe to Sleep is a homeless shelter for women in Springfield. In addition to providing year-round shelter to over 30 women a night, we are working with each guest on a case-by-case basis to find stable and sustainable housing.
April 12
Bill Piston & John Rutherford, Authors of “We Gave Them Thunder: Marmaduke’s Raid on Springfield and Hartville.”
In the winter of 1862-1863, following a series of battlefield disasters, Confederate leaders in Arkansas attempted to recoup their fortunes by raiding Union supply lines in Missouri. The raid was led by Brigadier General John Sappington Marmaduke and his attack on Springfield (January 8, 1863) and Hartville (January 11, 1863), produced two of the most interesting, if minor, battles to occur in Missouri during the Civil War.
April 19
Tom Peters, Dean of Library Services, MSU ~ 100 Years of the Hillbilly Variety Show: From the Weaver Brothers & Elviry to Presley’s Country Jubilee
Tom will describe how the hillbilly variety show as a type of viable commercial entertainment is over one hundred years old now, and it’s still going strong. Every hillbilly variety show combines four basic elements: the playing of music on instruments such as the fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass, and mandolin; singing; dancing; and comedy. Tom will discuss the formal and historic aspects and impact of hillbilly variety shows.
April 26
Dr. Peter Browning, History, Philosophy & Religion Faculty ~ Drury University
“Obesity, Health measurement, and the Food industry.” Dr. Browning wrote a short academic book that came out in 2019 will share with us his discoveries. It argued that the food culture in America has created ill health through its proliferation of highly processed foods but that society should not engage in discrimination based on body size. The language of obesity makes assumptions about the link between weight and health that are not accurate, and that harm people, especially women.
May 3
Laurie Davis and Ashley Fears, Education Outreach Coordinators, City of Springfield Recycle Right”
Recycling….why bother? Does it really matter? And are there things I’m doing that might actually be contaminating my materials? There really is a way to make sure you are doing your part to Recycle Right!
May 10
Helen Murray White
Boonville Road and the Butterfield Overland Mail Helen has written a history of the Overland Butterfield Stage Coach journey which passed through her ancestral farm that was established in 1870 just north of Springfield. She is the 5th generation to live on the farm and will present a slide show……etc. Helen’s book “The Murray Family, History and Heritage from Lena’s Trunk” has just been published by Heritage Books.
May 17
Kathleen O’Dell, Community Relations Director
Kathleen will provide an update on what’s happened and will happen at all branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library System since COVID 19.
May 24
Tom Van De Berg, Chief Forensic Investigator, Greene County Medical Examiner’s Office
Tom will discuss how COVID-19 pandemic affected work at the ME’s office.
May 31
Amy Jardell, Executive Director, Ozarks Literacy Council
Amy will discuss literacy in Springfield and how the community is working to increase its literacy rate, specifically adult low literacy, how to recognize it and how to help.
February 4
History Museum on the Square: Then and Now
John Sellars, executive director
John will share scenes from old and new Springfield as he travels down memory lane and as a native Springfieldian, he has lots of them.
February 11
Springfield Ballet Company: Passion for Dance, Poise for Life
Ashley Walden, executive director, and/or Andrew Parker, artistic director
Discussion will center around Springfield Ballet’s history in the community, its mission, how it impacts the community and ways to get involved with the organization, if interested.
February 18
All Maps are Lies
Kelly Johnston
Maps spur our imagination. Maps transport us. In maps we trust. But all maps are lies. Filled with examples of maps from the Show-Me State and beyond, this presentation will forever change the way you look at maps. You will come away as a more informed and discerning map reader with an understanding that not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential.
February 25
Ozarks Literacy Council
Amy Jardell, executive director
Amy will discuss literacy in Springfield and how the community is working to increase its literacy rate, specifically adult low literacy, how to recognize it and how to help.
March 3
Investing in Education, Innovation and Economic Development
Allen Kunkel, associate vice president for Economic Development and director of Jordan Valley Innovation Center
The IDEA Commons district is home to the Jordan Valley Innovation Center and the eFactory. This presentation will provide an overview of the IDEA Commons district, and the expansion plans for the future.
March 10
A Debt of Dignity: History Flight’s work to recover missing American servicemen from World War II
Bill Garvin, director of Library and Information Services, Drury University
Bill will discuss his work as a volunteer with History Flight, a nonprofit dedicated to recovering the remains of more than 70,000 American servicemen still listed as missing in action from World War II, working in concert with the Pentagon’s Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency. Bill will describe the work he did on a project in July 2019 to recover the remains of three American airman lost on a bombing mission over Germany in May 1944.
March 17
Safe to Sleep: More than a homeless shelter
Jessica Lurass, Council of Churches
Safe to Sleep is a homeless shelter for women in Springfield. In addition to providing year-round shelter to more than 30 women a night, the shelter works with each guest on a case-by-case basis to find stable and sustainable housing.
March 24
Convoy of Hope: 25 years of delivering hope
Jessica Blake, public relations director, Convoy of Hope
Jessica will share the history and the mission having served more than 115 million people worldwide through six different initiatives: agriculture, children’s feeding, community events, disaster service, rural compassion and women’s empowerment. The group’s goal is to bring hope to people who need it most in the United States and vulnerable communities around the world.
March 31
Recycle Right
Laurie Duncan, education outreach coordinator, and Ashley Krug, market development coordinator, city of Springfield
Recycling, why bother? Does it really matter? And are there things I’m doing that might actually be contaminating my materials? There really is a way to make sure you are doing your part to recycle right.
April 7
Ten of the 6 Million: Please remember them, Hungarian Jews in 1944
Erika Schwartz, IML member
The family decimated by the Nazi Holocaust, Erika and her mother were the lone survivors. As one of the youngest Holocaust survivors, Erika has been a featured speaker in Los Angeles at the Museum of the Holocaust, the Museum of Tolerance and at various high schools. Now living in Springfield, she has told the story of her family at high schools and at the St. Louis Museum of the Holocaust.
April 14
A Region in Conflict: The Civil War era in the Ozarks
Dr. Brooks Blevins, history professor, History, Missouri State University
Brooks is the Noel Boyd Professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University. He has written or edited nine books, including “Ghost of the Ozarks: Murder and Memory in the Upland South” and “A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1: The Old Ozarks.” His talk comes from his most recent book, “A History of the Ozarks, Volume 2: The Conflicted Ozarks.”
April 21
The Ethics of Eating: How do we eat in a way that is good to ourselves, others, animals and the environment?
Dr. Peter Browning, philosophy and religion professor, Drury University
In this presentation, Eating is more morally complicated than we might think. Peter will explore processed foods, health, weight and body diversity, world hunger, the treatment of animals and the impact of food production and consumption on the environment.
April 28
Boonville Road and the Butterfield Overland Mail
Helen Murray White, author
Helen will discuss her research on the Boonville Road and describe the Butterfield Mail Route to Springfield, which ran front of her old farmhouse. She will describe the route from Tipton to Springfield, the focus of her book, “Butterfield Overland Mail Route, a History of Early Settlers Along Boonville Road in Northern Greene County, Missouri.”
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