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From Global Experience to National Transformation: A Call to Lead and Inspire
6:00 PM – Advanced Teaching Research Building (ATRB) 1302 - Ghana's Independence Day Celebration and LectureManasseh Azure Awuni is an author and investigative journalist whose work has resulted in the passage of a law by Ghana’s parliament, cancellation of government contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and prosecution and jailing of persons. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of The Fourth Estate, a non-profit, public-interest journalism project founded by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).Manasseh was named Ghana’s Journalist of the Year for 2011 (a year after graduating from journalism school) by the Ghana Journalists Association. In 2018 and 2020, the Media Foundation for West Africa named him West Africa Journalist of the Year. He was adjudged the overall best journalist at the 2023 Norbert Zongo African Prize for Investigative Journalism (PAJI-NZ). Manasseh is the author of four nonfiction books: Voice of Conscience (2016), Letters to My Future Wife (2017), The Fourth John: Reign, Rejection & Rebound (2019), Investigative Journalism in Africa: A Practical Manual (2023), and The President Ghana Never Got (2024). Manasseh was a Nieman Journalism Fellowship at Harvard University for the 2023-2024 academic year.This lecture is part of the Ghana Students Association’s Maiden Ghana Independence and Cultural Celebration at ISU campus. Participation in this event is free. Note: This lecture is not available for card scanning and will not be recorded.

Dragons & Rayguns: Book Reading with the Iowa Poet Laureate
5:00 PM – Christian Petersen Art Museum, 1017 Morrill Hall - Vince Gotera is the Poet Laureate of Iowa and Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Northern Iowa, where he taught for almost 30 years. He was editor of the North American Review (2000-2016) and Star*Line, the print journal of the International Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association (2017-2020). His poetry awards include a Creative Writing Fellowship in Poetry from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Global Filipino Literary Award in Poetry, The Mary Roberts Rinehart Award in Poetry, and an Academy of American Poets Prize, among others. Poetry collections include "Dragonfly," "Ghost Wars," "Fighting Kite," "The Coolest Month," and "Dragons & Rayguns."Recent poems appeared in Dreams & Nightmares, The Ekphrastic Review, Failed Haiku, The MacGuffin, Philippines Graphic (Philippines), Rattle, Rosebud, The Wild Word (Germany), Yellow Medicine Review, and the anthologies Multiverse (UK), Dear America, and Hay(na)ku 15. Of his most recent publication, "Dragons & Rayguns," the esteemed poet Bryan Thao Worra, past president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association, writes, “Witty and profound, playful and inviting, these poems are a delight, whether dealing with rocket ships and super science to alien shores, Filipino myth, and human loss and wonder.”Note: This lecture will not be recorded. 

Demystifying AI: What Adoption Success Looks Like for Humans
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Olivia Gambelin is a world-renowned expert in artificial intelligence ethics and product innovation whose experience in utilizing ethics-by-design has empowered hundreds of business leaders to achieve their desired impact on the cutting edge of AI development. Gambelin works directly with product teams to drive AI innovation through human value alignment, as well as executive teams on the operational and strategic development of responsible AI.Olivia is the author of the book Responsible AI: Implement an Ethical Approach in Your Organization with Kogan Page Publishing. Responsible AI guides readers step-by-step through the process of establishing robust yet manageable ethical AI initiatives for any size organization, outlining the three core pillars of building a responsible AI strategy: people, process and technology. It provides the insight and guidance needed to help leaders fully understand the technical and commercial potential of ethics in AI while also covering the operations and strategy needed to support implementation.As the founder of Ethical Intelligence, the world’s largest network of responsible AI practitioners, Gambelin offers unparalleled insight into how leaders can embrace the strength of human values to drive holistic business success. She is the creator of The Values Canvas, co-founder of Women Shaping the Future of Responsible AI (WSFR.AI), founding Editorial Board member for Springer Nature’s AI and Ethics Journal, and sits as an advisor for the Ethical AI Governance Group (EAIGG) and The Data Tank. She has advised various organizations from Fortune 500 to Series A startups across the healthcare, financial, and media sectors in utilizing ethics as a decision-making tool for success in artificial intelligence.Gambelin splits her year between San Francisco where she is an active member of Silicon Valley’s ecosystem of startups and investors, and Brussels where she advises on AI policy and regulation.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Graduate Education, Opportunity, and AI
12:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Odis Johnson Jr., PhD, is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Social Policy and STEM Equity at Johns Hopkins University, where he has faculty appointments in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the School of Education as Executive Director of the Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, and in the Department of Sociology at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. He also directs the Institute in Critical Quantitative, Computational, and Mixed Methodologies (ICQCM), a National Science Foundation data science training institute.He previously served as a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis, and chaired the African American Studies Department at the University of Maryland. His work on the interrelated topics of neighborhoods, social policy, and race have been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, William T. Grant Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation. A transdisciplinary scholar, his work appears in the leading journals of 11 scientific disciplines and fields. Johnson’s work and ideas about social change have been featured in prominent media outlets, including the Oprah Magazine, Good Morning America, Christian Science Monitor, CNN, The Washington Post, MSNBC, NPR, Teen Vogue, The Associated Press, Vox, The New Yorker, The New York Times, NBC News, The Chicago Tribune, SiriusXM, and a variety of international and local news outlets.This lecture is part of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate's (GPSS) annual conference, which is free and open to the public. No registration is required to attend the keynote. To register for the GPSS conference, visit their website.This lecture will be recorded and available only to those with a current ISU Net ID on the Available Recordings page for three weeks from the date of the lecture.

Is There More to Mental Health? Let’s Discuss Flourishing, Suffering, and Spirituality
7:30 PM – South Ballroom, Memorial Union - 2025 Veritas ForumDr. Warren Kinghorn, a psychiatrist from Duke University, believes that modern mental health has produced helpful medications and practices but that the benefits are limited by an overly individualistic and mechanistic view of what a person is. Using the alternate view of a person posited by Thomas Aquinas, a Christian thinker, Dr. Kinghorn suggests reframing how we think about mental health without discarding the beneficial treatments of modern medicine. Join us for a conversation featuring Dr. Kinghorn and Dr. F. Marty Martinez, a psychologist who retired in 2021 after working at ISU for 33 years. Dr. Eric Weber, ISU professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics, will moderate.  Dr. Warren Kinghorn is associate professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, co-director of the Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative at Duke Divinity School, and a staff psychiatrist at the Durham VA Medical Center.  Dr. F. Marty Martinez has a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He served as a staff and sport psychologist at the ISU Counseling Center for 33 years until he retired in 2021 to go into private practice. He also served as a team sport psychologist for USA Track & Field. This event is the 2025 Veritas Forum. It is sponsored by the Christian Faculty and Staff Association and the Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government). Note: Due to a technical issue, there is no recording of this event. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

The Past, Present, and Sustainable Future of Our Infrastructural Networks
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - 2025 Symposium on Sustainability KeynoteDr. Deb Chachra, PhD, is a distinguished materials scientist and professor at Olin College of Engineering. She specializes in biological materials and infrastructure, with a keen interest in engineering education. Dr. Chachra is the author of the book How Infrastructure Works: Inside the Systems That Shape Our World (2023), which explores the intricate systems that underpin our daily lives.Dr. Chachra earned her Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Materials Science from the University of Toronto. Her doctoral research focused on the influence of fluoride on bone quality, supervised by Marc Grynpas. She later conducted postdoctoral research at MIT, investigating how bone responds to aging and the shelf-life of bioprosthetic heart valves. At Olin College, Dr. Chachra has been a pioneer in developing student-centered learning experiences, emphasizing hands-on, design-focused courses. Her work aims to foster motivation and reflective practice among young technologists. She is also deeply involved in educational research, particularly in improving retention and diversity in engineering education for women and minority students.Dr. Chachra has written for various publications, including The Atlantic and Nature, and maintains a popular newsletter called Metafoundry. Her work has been recognized with awards such as the NSF CAREER Award.This lecture has been recorded and is available to view on the Available Recordings page.

Reiman Gardens Sneak Peek 2025: Picture Perfect: Celebrating 30 Years of Beauty at Reiman Gardens
6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Join Education Director Sara Merritt for a preview of what Reiman Gardens has in store for 2025 as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary! From instagrammable summer displays to once-in-a-lifetime parties, special events, educational programs, and more.Note: This event will not be recorded.

Wake Up the “Watchdog”: Ensuring Our Government Doesn’t Misuse Our Taxes
6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Rob Sand is the State Auditor, a position he was first elected to in 2018; he is currently the only Democratic Party statewide officeholder in Iowa.  Rob is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Iowa College of Law. He interned in Washington, D.C. for Democratic Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, and then began working for Democratic campaigns in Iowa. After graduating law school, Rob was appointed Assistant Attorney General, and he became the lead prosecutor for two high profile cases: the Iowa Film Office tax credit scandal and the Hot Lotto fraud scandal.  Since becoming state auditor, Rob developed the Public Innovations and Efficiencies Program, which awards fiscal efficiency in government. He promoted individuals who made contributions to his opponents' campaigns into the most senior positions in the Auditor's Office. This is part of his commitment to a balanced approach to his Truth and Anti-Partisanship approach to public service. This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

A Dialogue About Congress and Bipartisanship
7:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - 2025 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and PoliticsA conversation with Former U.S. Representatives Vicky Hartzler and David Skaggs, and Dr. Karen Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.Vicky Hartzler is a former U.S. Representative for Missouri's 4th congressional district (2011-2023). A Republican, she previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives (1995-2001). Hartzler, an educator and businesswoman, focused on issues like agriculture, religious liberties, and foreign policy during her tenure. She ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 but lost in the Republican primary.David Skaggs is a former U.S. Representative for Colorado's 2nd congressional district, serving from 1987 to 1999. A Democrat, he also served in the Colorado House of Representatives (1981-1987), including two terms as Minority Leader. Skaggs has worked on the House Appropriations and Intelligence Committees and championed bipartisan cooperation through the House Bipartisan Retreats. After Congress, he founded the Center for Democracy & Citizenship and supported various democratic initiatives. He holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps, including active duty in Vietnam. Skaggs is married with three children and four grandchildren.

Technology as Storytelling: How Engineering, Science, and Faith Play
6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Note: This event was rescheduled from October 29, 2024.When we do our science and technology, our stories interpret what we see and direct what we make. In turn, we tell our stories not only by word and voice, but also by what we theorize and create. What does it mean when Christian scholars suggest all academic disciplines --including engineering-- are in the storytelling business? Or that God's Spirit is behind all knowing, even our technical and scientific know-how?  How does a story-based revelation add depth and meaning in our learning and doing of science and technology? Dr. Ethan Brue's study takes a nuanced, holistic, and historical look at how technology taps into human dreams for a better world, even while grappling with the challenges arising from new technologies. Ethan Brue received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University. He currently is the Dean for Technology and Applied Sciences at Dordt University, where he's taught engineering since 2000. Dr Brue is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), having previously worked as an engineeringconsultant and project manager in the energy generation sector as well as a research and development engineer in the agriculture industry. Dr Brue is a co-author of "A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers" (Intervarsity Press), which looks at the ethics and norms involved in technology design, biblical themes and passages that relate to technology, and how engineering and technology tap into human dreams for a better world. His research interests include thermochemical reactor design, the history of science and technology, solar energy engineering, biomass gasification and combustion, and fluidization. The University Book Store will be onsite selling copies of A Christian Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers at the event.This lecture was recorded and can be viewed on the Available Recordings page.