Southeast Speakers Series features Olympian, astronaut and a debate

The Southeast Missouri State University 2016-2017 Speakers Series was announced Tuesday and is set to include a host of thought-provoking and inspirational speakers, such as a gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast, a NASA astronaut and a former White House adviser, among others.

“From an astronaut to an Olympian, Southeast has invited an accomplished group of individuals to engage with students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community on a broad range of timely topics,” Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success and dean of students at Southeast, said in a news release.

Byron Pitts

John O’Leary, an inspirational speaker and burn survivor, will be the first to visit campus and will deliver his presentation, “Live Inspired,” during the new student-welcome convocation at 11 a.m. Friday in the Show Me Center.

Following O’Leary and officially kicking off the Speakers Series will be Byron Pitts, an Emmy-winning journalist, co-anchor of ABC’s “Nightline” and author of “Step Out on Nothing.”

Mandalit del Barco

Pitts will speak at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Academic Hall Auditorium.

Van Jones

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Mandalit del Barco will deliver the third Speakers Series presentation at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 in the University Center Ballroom.

She is an arts correspondent based at NPR West whose news reports, feature stories and photos have been featured on “All Things Considered,” “Morning Edition,” “Weekend Edition,” “Alt. Latino” and npr.org.

Kayleigh McEnany

Preceding the November election, Van Jones and Kayleigh McEnany will visit campus to host a Political Contributor’s Point/Counterpoint Debate at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Show Me Center.

Scott Kelly

Jones is a civil-rights leader, former Obama White House adviser, CNN contributor and the founder and president of Dream Corps, an incubator for world-changing initiatives.

Mary Berry

McEnany is a conservative pundit and CNN political commentator.

NASA astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly, who returned from a record-breaking year in space in March, will present “The Sky is Not the Limit: Lessons From a Year in Space” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Show Me Center.

Shawn Johnson

Dr. Mary Berry will be the keynote speaker for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner on Jan. 18, at the Show Me Center.

Berry served as chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights during four presidential administrations and was the first woman to lead a major research university, at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson will complete the Speakers Series with a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Show Me Center.

Johnson competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, winning an individual gold medal on the balance beam and three silver medals in the individual all-around, floor exercise and team categories.

Tickets for the McEnany and Jones debate and the Kelly and Johnson events are free with a Redhawks identification or $10 for the public at showmecenter.biz and the Show Me Center box office.

The O’Leary, Pitts and del Barco events are free to everyone.

Tickets for the McEnany and Jones debate and Kelly’s presentation will be available Monday. Tickets for the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner will be available Nov. 28, and tickets for the Johnson event go on sale in January.

For more information, go to semo.edu/speakers.

lyoung@semissourian.com

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