Wes Moore, Army combat veteran and best-selling author, is the keynote speaker for Missouri State University’s 2015 Public Affairs Convocation, which will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at JQH Arena. Moore is the author of this year’s common reader at Missouri State, “The Other Wes Moore.”
“‘The Other Wes Moore’ was selected as the common reader because it reflects the public affairs theme of the year, Building Healthy Communities,” said Mary Ann Wood, director of public affairs support. “The book encourages us to look at the environments we live in and how those impact the way we live our lives and how we react to influences placed upon us.”
The common reader is selected each year by a committee of faculty, staff, students and community members that all freshmen read in their Freshman Year Experience course.
Speaking about personal decision making
Moore’s lecture will focus on his book, which conveys the importance of individual decisions alongside community support, and making the right choices through education and awareness. He will also discuss the national program he founded called “BridgeEdU,” an innovative college platform that addresses the college completion and job placement crisis.
A book signing will follow the lecture and books with be available for purchase onsite.
The Public Affairs Convocation lecture is free and open to the public, and no ticket is required to attend.
Advocating across disciplines
Moore has been featured by USA Today, TIME Magazine, People Magazine, Meet the Press, “The Colbert Report,” “The View,” MSNBC and NPR. He is also a producer and has hosted programs such as “Beyond Belief” on the Oprah Winfrey Network, as well as two shows on PBS: “American Graduate Day 2014” and “Coming Back with Wes Moore,” which focuses on the reintegration of veterans of the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan.