The social science division at Southwestern College is hosting “Lunches With Leaders” Nov. 6-10, from noon to 1 p.m., in Mossman 101.  Lunch will be provided free of charge.  The public is invited to attend but an RSVP is required two days before the event.

 

The lecture is for all and the lunch associated with each lecture is free for the first 40 people who sign up.  Each day one discipline within social science hosts a speaker.

 

“Lunches With Leaders is a lecture series that highlights the story about the journey of each professional from college days to current position,” says Cheryl Rude, academic director for Leadership Southwestern.  “Each year we frame the lectures with the college’s academic theme.  This year the theme is hope and the leaders were asked to include a response to the question: ‘What can you be hopeful for in your career or area of expertise?’”

 

The featured speakers include:

• Monday, Nov. 6— Department of psychology presents Timothy Wright. Wright is principal associate at Dunlap and Associates, Inc.  He holds a bachelor of arts degree in both psychology and philosophy from Wheeling Jesuit University, and a master of arts and Ph.D. from Florida State University.  Wright is an expert in basic and applied aspects of attention including how aging influences attention and other cognitive abilities and how training can mitigate or combat age-related declines in these abilities.   

• Tuesday, Nov. 7— Department of history presents Kerri Falletti.  Falletti, CEcD, is a graduate of Friends University.  She began working at Cowley County Economic Development in March 2004 as an administrative assistant.  She then worked as a business consultant for Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) which launched the Cowley County KSBDC.   She returned to Cowley County Economic Development as director in 2010.  As director, she works closely with business and industry, as well as working with many local organizations to promote Cowley County’s vision for growth and development.   

• Wednesday, Nov. 8— Department of Philosophy and Religion presents Rev. Hollie Tapley. Tapley is the Great Plains Disaster Response Coordinator.  She is a graduate of Auburn University, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Chandler School of Theology.  She was ordained a United Methodist deacon in 1996.    

• Thursday, Nov. 9—Leadership Southwestern presents Bishop Bruce Blake.  Blake is an ordained minister in the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church as well as a Bishop.  He graduated from Friends University, and cum laude from Drew University School of Theology in Madison, N.J. He served as program director for the Kansas West Conference from 1969-74, and as senior pastor at Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Derby from 1974-84.  He served as Southwestern College president from 1984 to 1988.

• Friday, Nov. 10—Political science presents Rev. Raymond Dempsey.  Dempsey works at the Kansas Veterans Home as clinical chaplain and is active in volunteer work and community leadership.  He enlisted in the United States Army in February 1966 and remained in the Army until 1978.  During his service in Vietnam and other overseas theatres, he distinguished himself as a leader and was awarded numerous medals of commendation and combat medals, including the Bronze Star for Valor.

 

Southwestern College students can make reservations for the lecture and lunch by signing up in Mossman Hall; community members can email Brae.Wood@sckans.edu or call Pam Olney at (620) 229-6367 to make a reservation.