Convocation

2010-11 Schedule

The Faith and Life Convocation Series brings the college community together on a regular basis for outstanding presentations and programs. Florida Southern College believes that an educational institution based on the liberal arts should expose students to a broad range of issues – religious, aesthetic, moral, as well as intellectual – and an academic requirement, therefore your attendance is required. It is one of the many ways in which the college is committed to providing educational excellence.

All events take place at 10:10 a.m. in Branscomb Auditorium..

2010-11

Photo: Vernice Armour
Vernice Armour

Wednesday, September 22
Vernice Armour

Vernice Armour is an American pioneer. While serving as the first African-American woman on the Nashville Police Department’s motorcycle squad, she decided at age 24 to join the Marines and become a combat pilot. Three years later, she was recognized as America’s first African-American female combat pilot. She completed two tours in Iraq before returning to civilian life and starting her own consulting and training company. Featured on “Oprah,” CNN, and NPR, the professional motivational speaker will publish her first book, Zero to Breakthrough, early in 2011.

Convo Encore: Tues., Sept. 28, 2 p.m., 5:15 p.m., President’s Dining Room, Thrift; Wed., Sept. 29, 10:10 a.m., President’s Dining Room, Thrift

Photo: Tal Ben-Shashar
Tal Ben-Shahar

Wednesday, October 6
Tal Ben-Shahar

Who doesn’t want to be happier? Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar can point you in the right direction. His best-selling book, Happier, which is this year’s Common Reading selection, shares a road-map for achieving happiness, bridging scientific investigations in psychology and practical dimensions of self-knowledge that are understandable at some level by virtue of being human. A freelance writer and lecturer, Dr. Ben-Shahar previously taught “Positive Psychology,” the most popular course at Harvard University. He holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and a B.A. in philosophy and psychology from Harvard.

Convo Encore: Tues., Oct. 19, 2 p.m. & 5:15 p.m., President’s Dining Room, Thrift; Wed., Oct. 20, 10:10 a.m., Rogers Auditorium

	Wednesday, November 10 “Life Boat” What, or who, would help you survive? That’s the question posed by “Lifeboat,” an exercise in decision and choice. Faculty members from various disciplines will argue the case for letting them bring their talents into the Lifeboat. Students get to vote and decide who’s in – and who’s out. Convo Encore: Tues., Nov. 16, 2 p.m. & 5:15 p.m., President’s Dining Room, Thrift; Wed., Nov. 17, 10:10 a.m., Rogers Auditorium
Jamie Tworkowski	Wednesday, January 26 Jamie Tworkowski Jamie Tworkowski founded To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) to help a friend and tell a story. The nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide grew out of a 2006 blog post on MySpace by Tworkowski. He began selling T-shirts as a way to pay for his friend’s treatment. With the support of bands such as Switchfoot, Anberlin, and Paramore, the T-shirts became something of a phenomenon. Today, TWLOHA has the largest online audience of any nonprofit on either MySpace or Facebook, with more than 700,000 followers. To date, the TWLOHA team has responded to more than 150,000 messages from more than 100 countries and has invested $700,000 in treatment and recovery. Convo Encore: Tues., Feb. 1, 2 p.m. & 5:15 p.m., President’s Dining Room, Thrift, Wed., Feb. 2, 10:10 a.m., President’s Dining Room
Geoffrey Fletcher	Wednesday, February 16 Geoffrey Fletcher Geoffrey Fletcher is a writer-director who won the Academy Award in 2010 for Best Adapted Screenplay for Precious, his major screenwriting debut. Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Precious is the story of an obese and illiterate teenager who has been the victim of incest, verbal and physical abuse. A caring teacher and a social worker help Precious learn to read and take control of her life in the hopes of a better life for her and her children. Fletcher holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master of fine arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He is an adjunct film professor at Columbia University and at NYU’s Tisch School. He was the first African-American to win an Oscar for Best Screenplay. Convo Encore: Tues., Feb. 22, 2 p.m. & 5:15 p.m., President’s Dining Room, Thrift, Wed., Feb. 23, 10:10 a.m., President’s Dining Room, Thrift
	March - Founders Convocation - TBD TBD

Recorded versions of the Convocation programs will be available for students the following week. More about Convo Encores »

Times, dates, and programs are subject to change.

2010-11 Schedule

2010-11

Last year's lineup of speakers included:

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