As I have said many times, I feel incredibly fortunate to work at a public media station that is licensed to a university. Of the many things to love about being on campus – being around students, enjoying the beautiful grounds, regularly interacting with experts in their fields – one of my favorites is the chance to hear lectures from visiting thought leaders across various disciplines. This happens year-round, of course, but September is special. This month, Missouri State University will host the Public Affairs Conference. 

The conference showcases speakers from different fields and across the country, asking each to consider a single theme from their unique perspective. This year’s theme is Between the One and the Many: Considering Community and Individualism and the slate of speakers includes researchers, business leaders, journalists, artists, public servants, and celebrities. 

I hope you’ll check out the schedule, as all of the sessions are free and open to the public. And I’d like to personally invite you to attend the session that Ozarks Public Broadcasting is hosting – a presentation and Q&A with Scott Tong, former PBS News Hour reporter and current host of the public radio series Here & Now. Scott will speak at 12:30pm on Thursday, September 26. 

From the lecture hall to the living room, your local public media stations are committed to creating opportunities for lifelong learning. Thank you, as always, for supporting the station and making all those opportunities possible. 

Rachel Knight
General Manager