Speakers Bureau Participants
Following is a list of IU Kokomo faculty and staff who are available to speak to school and community groups in north central Indiana. Please use the online request form or call us at (765) 455-9272 to request a speaker.
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C. Catherine Barnes
Coordinator for Campus Climate, IU Kokomo
Education: B.S., Purdue University, 1973
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Presentation: Diversity Pays–Ask Pepsi Cola®, Ford®, General Motors®, and Bank of America®
Audience(s): Leadership workshops, diversity awareness programs, student orientation, student employee training, and clubs or organizations.
Description: We live in a changing world. Exciting opportunities exist behind doors everywhere in the world. The economy is becoming more global, and the face of the nation is becoming more diverse. People of all ages, cultures, and races are working, learning, and living together. To ensure success in this world, individuals today must learn to accept and embrace diversity.
Catherine Barnes creates a safe, energizing, and non-threatening environment to help students develop:
- A sense of self
- Skills for building alliances
- A focus on commonality instead of difference
- Opportunities for dialog versus debate
Her interactive style engages her audience and makes diversity informative and fun to explore.
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Diane Bever
Librarian, IU Kokomo Library
Education: M.L.S., Indiana University, 1979
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Presentation: Family Stories: Treasures in a Cigar Box
Audience(s): upper elementary students to senior citizens
Description: Diane Bever gives background information about writing family stories and examples from her personal experiences of editing four books of family stories written by her grandfather, William Whisler.
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Terri Bourus
Assistant Professor of English, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., English, Northern Illinois University, 2000
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Presentation: Who Is Shakespeare, and Why Should I Like Him?
Audience(s): General
Description: This lecture discusses the fun Shakespeare can offer, why people should take the trouble to understand his works, and how—despite time and distance—Shakespeare still speaks to readers and theater goers today. Knowing him will enrich one’s life considerably. He’s cool!
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Bridget Brewster
Director of Communication and Development, Sisters of Saint Joseph, Tipton
Education: M.A., Philanthropic Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 2001
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Presentation: Fund Raising Through Friend Raising: Starting with Committed Board Members
Audience(s): Individuals interested in fundraising, structuring an effective board, or learning about a career in development.
Description: A presentation of basic fundraising philosophy . . . it starts with relationships. Bridget Brewster offers an understanding of how the non-profit sector makes a difference in the world. May also include a presentation crafted to the needs of the audience.
Presentation: How Women’s Studies Changed My Life: The Remaking of a Marriage
Audience(s): Prospective and current college students (traditional age and non-traditional) as well as women’s civic and social organizations who would like to know more about what Indiana University Kokomo offers.
Description: An overview of Women’s Studies classes offered at Indiana University Kokomo as well as how this minor affected Ms. Brewster’s life.
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Christian Chauret
Associate Professor of Microbiology, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Waterloo, Canada, 1993
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Presentation: How Safe Is My Drinking Water?
Audience(s): General
Description: In these times of increasing security issues, more and more consumers are becoming concerned about the safety of their drinking water. Americans drink more than 1 billion glasses of tap water per day, so learning new information about safe drinking water is important to all of us. In this presentation, participants will learn about health issues related to drinking water with an emphasis on microbiological problems, drinking water treatment, and risks.
Christian Chauret is an environmental microbiologist, who has worked for more than 15 years in water, soil, and groundwater microbiology. Since 1994, he has studied the inactivation of the protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia in natural water, drinking water, and wastewater. He has also studied the association between microbial indicators and protozoan parasites, as well as the distribution of Aeromonas hydrophila in drinking water distribution systems. He is currently involved in several projects related to disinfection efficacy in distribution systems. Dr. Chauret’s research has been funded by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation, the American Chemistry Council, the Chlorine Chemistry Council, and Indiana University.
Dr. Chauret was a consultant for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for the preparation of the Ministry’s report on the Walkerton E coli outbreak.
He is a member of the American Water Works Association, the American Society for Microbiology, and the Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology.
Dr. Christian Chauret came to Indiana University Kokomo from his native Canada in 1996. At IU Kokomo, he teaches courses in microbiology, immunology, and genetics.
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Kevin Clark
Associate Professor of Psychology, IU Kokomo
Education: M.B.A., The University of Michigan, 1992; Doctoral Candidate, Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Indiana University
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Presentation: Interpreting Our World: Cognitive Structuring and Its Implications for Our Lives
Audience(s): General
Description: Dr. Kevin Clark will lead students in an exploration of the various ways in which our minds actively structure what we perceive, what we remember, and how we understand situations in our lives. The group will then explore how this “cognitive structuring” can affect our thinking, feelings, motivations, and interactions with others. It is often assumed that we just see what is out there in the world and store this in our memories for later use. However, our experiences and understandings are often shaped by our interpretations and perspectives (in many cases, without our being aware of it). We use what we already know (our knowledge and expectations) to make sense of the world. There is often more than one way to look at a situation. The classic example is that a glass can be viewed as half full or half empty. A more interesting example is how we can attribute our successes or failure to our abilities, our effort, the difficulty of the task, or luck.
These different interpretations influence how we act as well as how we think and feel about ourselves and others. The discussion will draw on concepts from a number of subdisciplines within psychology, including perception, memory, learning, motivation, cognitive psychology, and social psychology.
The presentation style will be very interactive. Students will be engaged in activities such as interpreting stimuli in different ways, trying to remember a string of letters or a passage of text, and explaining their own success or failure on a simple task. Emphasis will be placed on the implications of these ideas for learning as well as everyday life.
Kevin Clark has taught more than 100 college-level courses in mathematics and psychology. He currently teaches courses in psychology and statistics at Indiana University Kokomo.
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Julie Chism Diesman
Coordinator of Internships, Practicums, and Placement, IU Kokomo
Education: M.S., College Student Personnel Administration, Indiana University, 1994
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Presentation: Write Your Résumé Right
Audience(s): General
Description: Julie Diesman describes how to put together a résumé to express your strengths and skills in the best terms. Handouts are included.
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Minda Douglas |
Presentation: Art: Tastes Like Chicken
Audience: General
Description: Should the art you like match your sofa? What is the real function of art? Let us explore the ways art can enrich our imaginations, inspire us, make us laugh, and make us think!
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Karla Farmer-Stouse
Lecturer in English, IU Kokomo
Education: B.A., Health/Physical Education/English; M.A., Education, University of Evansville, 1989
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Presentation: Outside the Lines and Outside the Box: Thinking and Writing Creatively
Audience(s): Can be tailored to individual groups (covering high school assignments, workplace situations, etc.)
| Description: |
Its origin’s a mystery,
its uses nearly infinite,
its potential huge in each of us . . .
creativity. |
We live in a country founded on the free expression of individual ideas, yet the one quality we tend to shy away from and tend to limit is the very gift that makes free expression of our individualism possible—our creativity. When we are children, we live in a creative world, making up our games, our language, and our stories as we go. We delight in our ability to think in all directions and revel in the unlimited potential such thinking gives us. Somewhere on the way to growing up, though, we often become more conforming and less creative. We take comfort in following the same lines of thinking as everyone else because such conforming is often rewarded. While conformity has it place, we often forget that innovation—the product of creativity—is what truly changes the world. We also forget that what led such great innovators as Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Edison is present in each of us. Maybe it’s time to tap into our creativity to see what possibilities await us.
This interactive workshop is designed to encourage creative thinking and confidence in moving beyond “typical” responses. Participants will learn:
- The benefits of thinking “differently”
- How to look at issues and ideas from all angles
- Developing awareness of one’s creativity
- Practicing the unique
Karla Farmer-Stouse is a high-energy speaker who uses an interactive style to engage her audience in a discussion of creativity. She has taught English on the collegiate level for 17 years.
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Dr. James Farrer II
Senior Minister, College Avenue Church, Muncie
Education: B.A., Indiana University Kokomo, 1986 Master of Divinity, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University, 1991
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Presentations:
- Developing Spiritual Practices
- Understanding Your Spiritual Type
- Spiritual Formation for the Corporate Soul
- Understanding the Bible as a Historical Book
- Historical Reflection (About Any Organization)
Audience(s): General
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Michael S. Finkler
Assistant Professor of Biology, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Zoology, Miami University, Ohio, 1998
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Presentation: Turtles of the Wildcat
Audience(s): High school students; naturalist, wildlife, and conservation groups
Description: Science students of all ages will enjoy Dr. Michael Finkler’s interesting “journey” down Wildcat Creek. Dr. Finkler introduces his audience to the 10 species of turtles found in north central Indiana, followed by a brief discussion of conservation issues concerning turtles. A turtle is a reptile with a bony or leathery shell. Any shelled reptile can be called a “turtle”, but in North America, people reserve the word “turtle” for species that live in or near water. There are about 270 living species of turtles, which are grouped in 12 or 13 families.
Presentation: A Look at the Creepy-Crawly World of Salamanders
Audience(s): High school students; naturalist, wildlife, and conservation groups
Description: Dr. Finkler introduces his audience to salamanders found in north central Indiana, followed by a brief discussion of ecology and conservation issues concerning salamanders. The salamander is a shy, elusive animal that resembles a lizard but has smooth, delicate skin instead of scales. Salamanders display a wide diversity of lifestyles. Some live all of their lives on land, whereas others live entirely in water. Still others live part of their lives on water and part on land. Descendants of the forest animals with backbones to live on land, salamanders are one of the oldest groups of existing terrestrial vertebrates. The earliest known salamanders lived about 150 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. Today, there are about 380 different species of salamanders belonging to 10 different families. Even in places where salamanders are plentiful, humans are often unaware of their presence because they are typically inactive during the day and are virtually silent. Perhaps because they are so mysterious, salamanders are the subject of numerous myths and legends.
Dr. Finkler is an enthusiastic teacher who incorporates computer simulations and PowerPoint® visuals to enhance his classroom discussions. He has published several articles on turtles and salamanders and had a book contract with the Smithsonian Institution Press for a book titled Biology of the Snapping Turtle.
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Ted L Grayson, M.D.
Oncology surgeon with Indianapolis’ Methodist Hospital from 1961–1991 and a clinical faculty member for the Indiana University School of Medicine; M.D., Indiana University, 1953 |
Presentation: 50 Years of Change in Medicine
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Genetics and Genetic Engineering
Description: The past, present, and future of stem cell research, cloning, new medications, and other genetic manipulation.
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Health Care Economics
Description: Where health care dollars go, and the effects on patients.
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Retirement
Description: What’s retirement like for retiree and spouse? Advice, realism, and humor.
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Selection, Planting, and Care of Flowers and Trees
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Surgical Operations: A Slide Show
Audience(s): Health Care Students and Professionals
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Stuart Green
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Fine Arts, IU Kokomo
Education: M.F.A., Rochester Institute of Technology, 1970
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Presentation: The Hero’s Adventure in Mythology
Audience(s): General
Description: Myths are metaphorical. They tell imaginary stories about imaginary people. In so doing, they describe situations that happen, albeit on a smaller scale, to everyone. Even when they speak about real, historical events they take place within each human psyche, heart, and spirit. They cause physical and spiritual action or change to occur. These stories typically are about heroes, whether from ancient Babylon or the “Matrix.” Come and join Stuart Green on the mythic road to high adventure.
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Scott Jones
Assistant Professor of English, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., English, Purdue University, 2002
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Presentation: Business Communication Across Cultures
Audience(s): General
Description: How different cultures have various beliefs and practices that influence how they communicate in professional and social situations.
Presentation: Creating Winning Résumés
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Delivering Effective Business Presentations
Audience(s): General
Description: Includes information on using PowerPoint® effectively. Planning, organizing, creating, and delivering the presentation.
Presentation: Differences in Male and Female Workplace Communication
Audience(s): General
Description: Deals with how men and women often use different strategies to communicate in the workplace (and out of it) and the effects of those strategies on their jobs.
Presentation: Using Charts Effectively
Audience(s): General
Description: A shorter talk that introduces various types of graphs and charts and explains the business situations in which they would likely be used.
Presentation: Writing Effective Business Documents
Audience(s): General
Description: Strategies for creating business documents that achieve what the writer wants.
Presentation: How to Write College Admission Essays
Audience(s): General
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Nadene Keene
Associate Professor of English; Writing Center Director, IU Kokomo
Education: D.A., English Composition and Rhetoric, Illinois State University, 1985
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Presentation: Preparing for Writing Placement Tests in College
Audience(s): High school teachers/students
Description: Thinking of attending college? Want to get a head start? In this presentation, you will learn:
- What is a college writing placement test?
- Why do you have to take one?
- What can you do now to prepare for one?
- What are some tips for taking the writing placement test?
If time permits, Dr. Keene will include a typical writing prompt to which students can respond.
Presentation: Women and Literature
Audience(s): General
Description: Dr. Keene will present key concepts of the discipline of women’s literature—images of women, differing standards, women’s topics, and women’s perspective. A short piece of women’s literature will be distributed, so that small groups can discuss the selected piece. The class as a whole will consider the piece’s key concepts. Additional literature will be recommended.
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Marilyn R. Kintzele
Professor of Accounting, IU Kokomo; C.P.A.
Education: M.B.A., Indiana University, 1977
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Presentation: Current Accounting for Goodwill
Audience(s): Business professionals
Description: Marilyn Kintzele discusses how to implement the latest Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement concerning goodwill. Reviews the history of accounting for goodwill.
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Donna McLean
Associate Professor of Communication Arts, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Purdue University, 1992
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Presentation: Cultural Difference: Cross-Culture Communication
Audience(s): General
Description: What does it mean to communicate across cultures? What issues are involved when we share meanings with people from diverse cultural backgrounds? How can we better adapt and connect with other cultures around the globe?
From a communications perspective, Dr. Donna McLean will lead a workshop designed to aid students in recognizing what cultures are; the way in which culture, communication, and power are related; and the way in which language and nonverbal communication both reflect and are reflected in different cultural encounters.
Building on her experiences as a Canadian (who has taught and lived in the United States for the last 20 years) and as someone who taught in Asia for 18 months, Dr. McLean discusses strategies for cultural sensitivity, the benefits of cultural diversity, and issues related to cross-cultural communication. She is willing to focus the presentation on particular interests and employs both technological resources (such as PowerPoint® and the Internet) and personal examples and photos to illustrate concepts and to bring her talk to life.
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Raul Mosley |
Presentation: Tactics of Interpersonal Persuasion
Audience(s): General
Description: An explanation of the “6 Weapons on Influence” discussed by Robert Cialdini in his book, Influence: The psychology of persuasion. The presentation explores the following ways in which others try to get us to comply with their requests: Reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. According to Cialdini, these influences are often used as weapons against us because persuaders can use them without appearing to be manipulative.
Presentation: Leadership in Small Groups
Audience(s): General
Description: An interactive workshop designed to introduce small group facilitation activities. Ideas for leading groups in the creative generation of ideas will be explored in addition to how groups can make decisions
Presentation: Crafting and Delivering Group Presentations
Audience(s): General
Description: An overview of how to craft and present effective group presentations. Speaking attention will be paid to making the presentation a “group” presentation and not just a string of individual speeches.
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Deborah J. Olinger-Carithers
Probation Officer/Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Howard County Court Drug and Alcohol Program
Education: B.A., Social and Behavioral Sciences, IU Kokomo, 2001
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Presentation: Probation and the Court Alcohol and Drug Program
Audience(s): General
Description: What does it take to complete a substance abuse program? Deborah Olinger-Carithers takes a look at what it means to be on probation in a court-sponsored drug and alcohol program. She will share her experiences as both a probation officer and a substance abuse counselor and explain how her IU degree helped prepare her for her career.
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Kathy Parkison
Associate Professor of Economics; Director of the M.B.A. Program, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Economics, Purdue University, 1993
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Presentation: SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise)
Audience: High school students
Description: You can change the world. SIFE at Indiana University Kokomo challenges students to take what they’re learning in the classroom and use their knowledge to better our communities. For example, the SIFE team members teach concepts such as budgeting, accounting, and supply-and-demand. They help budding entrepreneurs get their plans off the ground and mentor at-risk students, inspiring them to reach for their dreams. Learn about how to join SIFE and change the world.
Presentation: Economics and Social Studies Education Standards
Audience(s): Teachers and other persons interested in education
Description: Confused by the many new state teaching standards and how to implement them in the classroom? Wondering how to manage to stuff one more topic into a full classroom day? I can show you how to incorporate multiple standards into existing lessons in math, science, and reading. Discusses the wide variety of curricula, courses, and workshops offered by the IU Kokomo Center for Economic Education.
Presentation: Economics of the Area
Audience(s): General
Description: Are you wondering how the local economy is doing compared to the national or regional economy? Have you ever wondered how reports can say we are not in a recession when is sure feels like one to you? Why doesn’t economic news seem to coincide with what you are experiencing in your business? Learn how economic news is measured and what it means to you.
Presentation: Economics in the Former Soviet Union
Audience(s): General or high school students
Description: Since the Soviet Union fell apart in the early 1990s, the countries in this region have experienced drastic changes in their economies, their schools, and their way of life. Learn about the United States’ efforts at nation-building in the region and what it means for the future.
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Ruth Person
Chancellor; Professor of Management, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Library Science, University of Michigan, 1980
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Presentation: Ten Things Women Need to Know to Break the Glass Ceiling
Audience(s): Women’s groups (professional)
Description: Dr. Ruth Person talks about the most important things women need to do (or not do) to rise to the level of senior manager/CEO.
Presentation: The Role of Higher Education in North Central Indiana
Audience(s): General
Description: Dr. Person focuses on the contributions colleges and universities can make to the development of the region.
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Sue Ridlen
Lecturer in Folklore; Director of Project Success Program, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Folklore and American Studies, Indiana University, 1992
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Presentation: Alligators in the Sewers and Other Urban Legends
Audience(s): General
Description: Legends are secular belief tales; they are apparently factual accounts, believed to be true, of unusual or extraordinary events in the lives of otherwise ordinary people. Dr. Sue Ridlen will look at classic legends such as “Alligators in the Sewers” as well as other urban legends that circulate among teenagers and adults alike. Why are they told? What do they mean to those who share these legends?
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Dianne Roden
Associate Professor of Finance, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Finance, Purdue University, 1992
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Presentation: Investment Risk and Return
Audience(s): General
Description: How can you decide what to invest in when there are so many confusing choices available? Basic level presentation to help demystify some of your choices, as well as help explain how diversifying your portfolio can reduce risk. Discussion of the advantages of mutual funds, and how to interpret the historical evidence concerning the rewards for bearing risk.
Presentation: Making Money$
Audience: High school students
Description: Learn about the wide range of careers available in finance and the many applications of finance in your everyday life. Dr. Roden also explains details of what is involved in earning a degree in finance.
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John Rudy
Professor of English
Education: Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, 1971
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Presentation: Zen Ocean, Zen Wave
Audience: Persons interested in religions, world culture, and literature
Description: A brief history of Buddhism from its rise in India to its journey through China and Japan, and later to the West in the late nineteenth century. Rudy presents a topical analysis of Buddhism’s metaphysical ground, based on the metaphor of an ocean wave. He also discusses the meditative strategies by which Zen Buddhists seek to actualize that base.
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Allen Safianow
Professor of History, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., History, Cornell, 1973
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Presentation: The Ku Klux Klan in Indiana
Audience(s): General
Description: Can tailor presentation to meet the audience’s needs.
Presentation: The Vietnam War
Audience(s): General
Description: Can tailor presentation to meet the audience’s needs.
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Sue Sciame-Giesecke
Dean of Arts and Sciences; Chairperson of the Department of Humanities; Associate Professor of Communication Arts, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Organizational Communication, Indiana University, 1995
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Presentation: The Power of Communication
Audience(s): General
Description: In a recent poll, The Gallup Organization asked respondents to rate 13 work-related skills and subject areas as critical, very important, somewhat important, or not too important to their ability to successfully do their jobs. On a national level, more than eight in ten Americans placed “dealing with people” as an essential skill for success. The foundation for good people skills is effective communication. In this presentation participants will learn how to effectively communicate with others in a variety of situations.
Dr. Sue Sciame-Giesecke is the Dean of Arts and Sciences and an associate professor of Speech Communication. She has worked with employees and supervisors in corporations throughout the United States as they try to enhance their communication skills at work. Her interactive, activity based presentation will engage audiences of all ages.
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Kristen L. Snoddy
Lecturer in English, IU Kokomo
Education: M.A., English, Michigan State University, 1982
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Presentation: The Immigration Experience: Recapturing Their Legacy Through the Writings They Left Behind
Audience(s): General
Description: From the first report of Todd Beamer’s words “Let’s roll”
to the later release of events that unfolded September 11, 2001, on the doomed United Flight 93, many Americans were reminded of the courage and sacrifice upon which our country was founded. What many of us know little about, however, is the immigrant experience.
Countless immigrants came to this country seeking a better life and did so at great cost. In many cases they left behind their families and culture. Willing to face an often difficult and dangerous journey in unhealthy and unstable conditions, they were motivated by one goal—to begin a new life in America. Their hopes and dreams, their fears and sacrifices can best be recaptured in the writings they have left behind.
Kristen Snoddy briefly covers a historical view of the influx of immigrants into the United States and focuses on excerpts from letters, poetry, essays, and other documents that communicate what true heroes the immigrants were.
Ms. Snoddy is a former middle school and high school English teacher, who is now a full-time English lecturer at Indiana University Kokomo.
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Robert A. Strikwerda
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Adjunct Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies, and Director of Honors Program, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, 1982
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Presentation: Environmental Ethics
Audience(s): High school students
Description: Robert Strikwerda will discuss various topics within the field, such as the land ethic of Aldo Leopold, environmental justice, and the tension between animal rights and environmental ethics.
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Jack Tharp
Vice Chancellor for Student Services, IU Kokomo
Education: Ed.D., Higher Education, Indiana University, 1993
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Presentation: General IU Kokomo Overview
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Financing College (from a Student/Parent Perspective)
Audience(s): General
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Jennifer Van Horn
Financial Consultant in Training, A.G. Edwards
Education: B.A., Sociology, 2000; A.S. in Business; pursuing M.B.A., 2003, IU Kokomo
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Presentation: Importance of Credit Card Usage
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Household Budgeting
Audience(s): General
Presentation: Saving and Planning for the Future
Audience(s): General
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Bob Wildblood
Practicing Psychologist; Lecturer in Psychology, IU Kokomo
Education: Ph.D., Psychology, Purdue University, 1972
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Presentation: Your Life Is Exactly As It Should Be
Audience(s): General
Description: If you’ve ever wondered why things are the way they are in your life, this presentation will give you a clear picture of how it happened. Even though many people believe that they have little control over what goes on in their world, you will be given a map showing how to get what you want out of life.
Presentation: Love and Relationships
Audience(s): General
Description: Have you ever wondered why some relationships work, and others don’t? No matter what your age, Dr. Wildblood will give you fool-proof information as to how you can increase the chances of making good choices in all of your relationships and how you can keep the relationships that you want fresh and interesting.
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