SectionsMSU to pay $10K for RFK Jr. speech
Bobbie Sawyer
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: News
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., environmental business leader and nephew of late U.S. president, John F. Kennedy and late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, will give the keynote address at the sixth annual Public Affairs Conference, themed "The New Economy: Promise and Peril."
"We believe Mr. Kennedy will add greatly to this year's conference, and we're very proud to host him," said President Michael Nietzel in a news conference held Tuesday.
Jodie Adams, director of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, initially brought the offer to Nietzel to bring Kennedy to Springfield.
Both the board and Leadership Springfield, a nonprofit organization devoted to developing and inspiring leadership in the community, joined Missouri State in paying the $30,000 to secure Kennedy as a speaker. Missouri State's $10,000 contribution was paid through the president's budget from a reserve fund.
Mary Ann Wood, director of Public Affairs Support, said she believes Kennedy's experience as an environmental advocate makes him a powerful voice to speak on this year's theme and the effect water resources have on the world economy.
"He's very focused on water conservation," Wood said. "Without a clean water supply, nothing else can happen."
Kennedy currently serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and has gained notoriety through his efforts to protect New York City's water supply as well as to encourage sustainable development. In 2009, he was named one of Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Agents of Change."
The sixth annual Public Affairs Conference will take place April 13-16, 2010 and will focus on the many questions surrounding the economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The four-day event is made up of keynote sessions, panel discussions and various special events and is intended to start conversation.
"We like to create a dialogue between speakers and the public," Wood said. "People are exposed to new ideas that they maybe haven't thought of before."
Tickets for the event are free and will be available to Missouri State students, faculty and staff on March 1 and 2 and then available to the public starting March 3. All tickets must be picked up in advance at MSU ticket outlets.
Kennedy will speak at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 16 in JQH Arena.
"We believe Mr. Kennedy will add greatly to this year's conference, and we're very proud to host him," said President Michael Nietzel in a news conference held Tuesday.
Jodie Adams, director of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, initially brought the offer to Nietzel to bring Kennedy to Springfield.
Both the board and Leadership Springfield, a nonprofit organization devoted to developing and inspiring leadership in the community, joined Missouri State in paying the $30,000 to secure Kennedy as a speaker. Missouri State's $10,000 contribution was paid through the president's budget from a reserve fund.
Mary Ann Wood, director of Public Affairs Support, said she believes Kennedy's experience as an environmental advocate makes him a powerful voice to speak on this year's theme and the effect water resources have on the world economy.
"He's very focused on water conservation," Wood said. "Without a clean water supply, nothing else can happen."
Kennedy currently serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and has gained notoriety through his efforts to protect New York City's water supply as well as to encourage sustainable development. In 2009, he was named one of Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Agents of Change."
The sixth annual Public Affairs Conference will take place April 13-16, 2010 and will focus on the many questions surrounding the economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The four-day event is made up of keynote sessions, panel discussions and various special events and is intended to start conversation.
"We like to create a dialogue between speakers and the public," Wood said. "People are exposed to new ideas that they maybe haven't thought of before."
Tickets for the event are free and will be available to Missouri State students, faculty and staff on March 1 and 2 and then available to the public starting March 3. All tickets must be picked up in advance at MSU ticket outlets.
Kennedy will speak at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 16 in JQH Arena.
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