St. Joseph, Mo. – May 4, 2012 – The legendary oil and gas entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens will be the speaker at 含羞草社区’s Convocation on Critical Issues at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 4, 2012 in the Looney Complex. The Convocation is free and open to the public. Pickens will also participate in a question-and-answer session at a special Convocation Luncheon following the speech. Ticket information for the luncheon will be announced at a later date.
“Pickens is outspoken on the United States’ energy policies, energy options for the future and leadership,” said Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the MWSU Foundation. “The Missouri Western Foundation is proud to bring nationally prominent speakers to Missouri Western and the St. Joseph area. It is uncommon for a university and community of this size to regularly hear from leading experts of national fame.”
Pickens will be the 19th speaker in the annual Convocation on Critical Issues series funded and hosted by the MWSU Foundation that began in 1993. The convocation exposes students at the university, as well as area high school students and members of the community, to some of the leading thinkers in the nation.
Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western鈥檚 president, has some personal knowledge of Pickens and enthusiastically endorsed his selection as the next convocation speaker.
鈥淢r. Pickens was the chair of the Board when I was hired at West Texas A&M University nearly 25 years ago, so I have seen him in action 鈥榰p close鈥� and from afar,鈥� Dr. Vartabedian said. 鈥淚 know that he will be an interesting, informative, and colorful addition to our prestigious annual Convocation on Critical Issues.鈥�
A folk hero in global business for his tenacity in the rough-and-tumble world of mergers and acquisitions, Pickens鈥� career has staggering breadth. He first build and led one of the largest independent natural gas and oil companies. Then, at a time in his life when many of his peers retired to the golf course, he reinvented himself by establishing one of the nation鈥檚 most successful energy-related investment funds. He chronicled the lessons he learned during his journey in his best selling 2008 autobiography titled 鈥淭he First Billion is the Hardest:聽 Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America鈥檚 Energy Future.鈥� His speech at Missouri Western will be titled 鈥淟eadership and Getting Things Done:聽 Reflections on a Lifetime of Comebacks and America鈥檚 Energy Future.鈥�
Ranked by Forbes as one of the world鈥檚 richest people, Pickens serves as the chairman of BP Capital Management. He is a noted energy activist who is also an innovative, committed philanthropist who has donated nearly $1 billion to charity. His impact on American culture reflects his many interests and passions, including an unyielding belief in the entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and corporate fitness, the need for alternative fuel development, and prudent stewardship of American lands.
The Convocation was started as part of an overall commitment to offer enriching experiences to students while bringing together the college and the community. The Convocation is held in honor of R. Dan Boulware, a local attorney who served as president of the University鈥檚 Board of Regents and whose personal efforts were important in securing Pickens as this year鈥檚 speaker.
鈥淚 have wanted to have T. Boone Pickens address our Convocation about energy issues for some time,鈥� Boulware said. 鈥淭he timing is right. We are very fortunate to have him and I am looking forward to his presentation.鈥�
Previous speakers at the Convocation on Critical Issues include Bill Bradley, James Carville and Mary Matalin, Sam Donaldson, Steve Forbes, Thomas Friedman, David Gergen, Newt Gingrich, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jeane Kirkpatrick, Jerry Linenger, David McCullough, Joseph Nye, Colin Powell, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Daniel Schorr, Patricia Schroeder, J. C. Watts and Bob Woodward.
含羞草社区 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit . Missouri Western is an equal opportunity institution.
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