Students, community can learn about careers in liberal arts speakers series
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - An ambassador, corporate vice presidents, a newspaper editor and an artist are some the professionals to be featured in a weekly alumni series presented by Purdue University's College of Liberal Arts.
The fall class and speakers series is part of the LA Influentials course that is being offered to liberal arts students and taught by Irwin Weiser, the Justin S. Morrill Dean of Liberal Arts. The class meets from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on Fridays from Aug. 27 through Dec. 10. The talks, given by liberal arts alumni, are in Beering Hall, Room 2280. They are free and open to the public as seating permits.
The dates, speakers and topics are:
* Sept. 3. Scott Frankenberger, owner of Crossroad Pottery??, will present "Getting There from Here: The Business of Being an Artist." He earned his master's degree in creative arts in 1979. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_2010_Frankenber.html
* Sept. 10. Maura Pierce, professional-in-residence in the Department of Communication at Purdue. She earned a bachelor's degree in American studies in 1986.
* Sept. 17. Joseph Gabbert, executive vice president of human resources at McAfee, Inc., will present "Rising to the Top in an Ever Changing World." He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology in 1974. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_2010_Gabbert_bi.html
* Sept. 24. Jeff Warren, owner and manager of Warren Enterprise Associates, will present "Sand, Soybeans, Saguaros, and Back, Productive Schizophrenia-being a Jack and a Master." He earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1978. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_2010_Warren.html
* Oct. 1. Ambassador Donald Mahley, special negotiator for nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State, will present "Wider Horizons: Public Service and Private Satisfaction." He earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1964. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_2010_Mahley_bio.html
* Oct. 8. Michael Schiferl, executive vice president and director of media relations at Weber Shandwick Worldwide. He earned his bachelor's degree in communication in 1989.
* Oct. 15. Kristen Morris, divisional vice president of federal government affairs at Abbott Laboratories, will present "The Best Job Ever! Politics, Strategy, and Communication." She earned her bachelor's degree in communication in 1986. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_10_Morris_bio.html
* Oct. 22. Kevin Mayer, director of marketing communications at Subaru of America, Inc., will present "Never Blend In ... You're a Product They Need, They Just Don't Know It Yet." He earned his bachelor's degree in communication in 1991. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_2010_Mayer.html
* Oct. 29. Thomas Jenkins, an attorney at Hall, Render, Killian, Heath and Lyman, and Kathy Jenkins, an attorney at J. Kathryn Jenkins, will present "Change-Opening Doors." He earned his bachelor's degree in English in 1965, and she earned her bachelor's degree in foreign languages and literatures in 1966. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_2010_Jenkins_bi.html
* Nov. 5. Steve Monroe, business editor at The Gazette, will present "Old Media vs. New Media: My Journey." He earned his bachelor's degree in communication in 1973. More information is available at https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/gs300/Fall_2010_Monroe.html
* Nov. 12. Julian Phillips, media consultant for U.S. Congressman Ed Towns and political analyst for Phillips Communication, will present "Never Give Up, Never Give In, Believe in Yourself, Even When Others Don't." He earned his bachelor's degree in communication in 1977.
* Dec. 10. John Phelan, retired executive director of Hermes Energy Associates, will present "Another Different Career Path After Purdue." He earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1964.
Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu
Irwin Weiser, 765-494-3661, iweiser@purdue.edu