Community Members

NEO A&M is planning to bring a list of distinguished speakers to campus beginning in the Spring of 2016 to enlighten, entertain, and engage our student body and community. Please help us decide which speakers to bring to campus.

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Please rate the following speakers on a scale of 1-5.

1 - Not likely to attend
5 - Definitely would attend
Ben Rector

Singer-songwriter - Nashville, TN

Eight years after he began touring while at the University of Arkansas and two years after his first entry into the Top Twenty on the Billboard Album Chart, Ben Rector is back with a new album and is feeling "Brand New" (August 28th, Aptly Named Recordings). The singer-songwriter's newest album marks a return to the spirit of his youth, when he was a music-crazed teenager playing guitar in his Tulsa bedroom. At that time, every new song was a discovery, and turning those songs into a career was just a dream. Since then, the twenty-eight year old has made that dream a reality, independently selling over 250,000 albums and 2,000,000 downloads. His four studio albums and 2014’s "Live In Denver", have repeatedly put him on top of the iTunes charts, leading to sold-out shows to fans who sing along with every word in theaters across the country. Rector has written hundreds of songs and played thousands of bills in his young career, but in the writing and recording of "Brand New", he re-discovered the energy of his early days, with songs that have all the punch, power and promise of a debut record. Filled with rich string arrangements, percussion, pounding piano chords and effortless melodies, "Brand New" sounds anthemic. At the same time, its message is both sincere and humble, anchored by songs that are honest and meaningful. It's pop music with a purpose.

Check out Ben Rector here:

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Dr. Temple Grandin

Livestock handling designer, autism activist - Ft. Collins, CO

One of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Important People, Dr. Temple Grandin is an expert on animal behavior, the designer of humane handling systems for half the cattle-processing facilities in the US. She also invented the “hug box,” a device to calm those on the autism spectrum, like herself. Grandin’s books about her interior life as an autistic person have increased the world's understanding of the condition with personal immediacy -- and with import, as rates of autism diagnosis rise. She is revered by animal rights groups and members of autistic community, perhaps because in both regards she is a voice for those who are sometimes challenged to make themselves heard.

Watch her TED talk here:

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Dr. Todd Halihan

Oklahoma State University Hydrogeophyics Professor - Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma geologist and hydrogeology professor at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Todd Halihan is an authority on the earthquakes in Oklahoma that have increased in both number and intensity over the last several years. Halihan has spoken to media worldwide regarding the state’s growing problem and what can be done about it since the Oklahoma Geological Survey announced that wastewater injection wells are the likely cause of the majority of Oklahoma’s earthquakes.

Check out Dr. Halihan here:

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Jet & Cord McCoy

Amazing Race Contestants - Tupelo, OK & Ada, OK

Before the McCoy brothers were 2nd Place winners on the 16th season of The Amazing Race, Jet and Cord McCoy were Oklahoma cowboys. They quickly became a favorite team on The Amazing Race for their sweet natured personalities. Between the ages of five and eight, both Cord & Jet had won their first junior rodeo competitions. In their speaking presentations, these brothers share life lessons, their experiences in the race, going around the world, working together to achieve goals, and sharing personal stories of two kids from a small town who learned to achieve success.

Check out The McCoy Brothers here:

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Jill Donovan

Founder, Rustic Cuff - Tulsa, OK

A self-proclaimed "regifter", Jill Donovan was once a guest on Oprah and unexpectedly embarrassed by a panel of "etiquette experts" who labeled her as rude and tacky on air. Devastated and dejected, she turned tragedy into triumph. Jill taught herself how to make cuffs and launched her own business, Rustic Cuff, a booming business with celebrities such as Miranda Lambert, Giuliana Rancic and Kristen Chenoweth sporting her designs. In March 2015, a Rustic Cuff bracelet that Jill gave to Gayle King was featured on the cover of Oprah’s O Magazine, worn by Oprah herself. A “regift” from Gayle to Oprah? For Jill it was the best full circle moment. In addition to her highly coveted cuffs, Jill is a highly sought-after motivational speaker who encourages others to pursue their own passions.

Check out Jill Donovan here:

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Taya Kyle

Widow of Former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle

Taya Kyle, widow of the late Chris Kyle, former U.S. Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times best selling author, has emerged as a strong and fearless voice for military veterans and families struggling with the traumatic effects of war. Now a major motion picture directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Copper and Sienna Miller, Chris Kyle’s "American Sniper" shows the true story of Chris and Taya’s life together and their incredible experience between tours and during the war. Following the tragic death of her husband in February 2013, Taya Kyle has focused on keeping the spirit of her husband and his service alive. She speaks to audiences across the country about his incredible accomplishments as the top sniper in U.S. military history and the challenges that face veterans today.

Learn more about Taya Kyle here:

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Amy Morin

Author, “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.”

Amy’s article, “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” introduced the world to the bad habits that can keep us from being mentally strong. Her article was reprinted and shared millions of times as it became a viral sensation. Within a few days, her list was republished on Forbes.com, where it became one of their most read articles of all time with 10 million views. Despite the popularity of her article, very few people knew that her knowledge of mental strength stemmed beyond her expertise as a psychotherapist – it was also personal. Losing her mother, husband, and father-in-law in a short period of time reinforced to her that it’s not enough to have good habits – we also have to avoid the unhealthy pitfalls that can prevent us from reaching our greatest potential.

Learn more about Amy Morin here:

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Dr. Clarence B. Jones

Professor, Speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, JR - Palo Alto, CA

Dr. Clarence B. Jones is currently a Visiting Professor, University of San Francisco and a Scholar Writer in Residence, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. In a distinguished and heralded career, Clarence B. Jones served as political advisor, counsel and draft speechwriter for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., joined Sanford I. Weill and Arthur Levitt, Jr. in Carter, Berlind & Weill, Inc. as an Allied Member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), becoming the first African American partner in a Wall Street investment banking firm, has been twice recognized as Fortune Magazines Business Man of the Month, and founded successful financial, corporate and media-related ventures. He has also provided strategic legal and financial consulting services to several governments around the world including The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Zambia. Dr. Jones is co-author of "WHAT WOULD MARTIN SAY?" (2008), "BEHIND THE DREAM-The Making of the Speech That Transformed A Nation" (2011), and an E-book, "UPRISING: Understanding Attica, Revolution and the Incarceration State". Dr. Jones posts a regular column in the Huffington Post. He is also writing his autobiography: "A Pencil and Dollar Bill" - Memoirs From An African-American Journey From the Depression to The Election of Barack Obama as President of the United States.

Learn more about Dr. Clarence B. Jones here:

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Kevin Breel

Author, Comedian, Mental Health Activist

Kevin Breel is a 22-year-old author, comedian, and mental health activist whose work has been featured in media outlets such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, INC Magazine and NBC. As an author, his debut memoir ‘Boy Meets Depression’ was published by Random House and has achieved critical acclaim. As a comedian, Kevin became one of the youngest feature acts in Canadian history. He has been on stages like the House of Blues, the Sony Centre and the Coliseum in Vegas, as well as a frequent headliner at college campuses across the country. He has also spoken at billion dollar corporations and even at TED; where his viral talk has amassed over 4 million views. The talk entitled “Confessions of a Depressed Comic” is now one of the most viewed TED talks in history- alongside the likes of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. As a mental health activist, Kevin has also raised millions of dollars for suicide prevention and is one the National Spokespeople for the prestigious Bell LET’S TALK campaign. Recently, Parade Magazine named Kevin as one of the top six “Most Influential Millennials in the World” alongside the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Malala Yousafzai.

Learn more about Kevin Breel here:

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Peterson Farm Brothers

Agriculture Advocates, YouTube Parody Artists - Assaria, KS

Prior to the release of their initial parody video titled “I’m Farming and I Grow It”, the Peterson Farm Brothers spent their time working on their family farm in rural Kansas. They have released other parody videos surpassing more than 9 million total views on YouTube. In their speaking presentations, the Peterson Farm Brothers speak to the need for agriculture advocacy and challenge their audiences to actively pursue their own beliefs.

Learn more about The Peterson Farm Brothers here:

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Kelsey Timmerman

Best-Selling Author, Investigative Reporter

New York Times Best Selling Author and Acclaimed Investigative Reporter on Globalization, Kelsey Timmerman has trekked the planet and uncovered the real story behind American consumerism. He empowers audiences to think globally and act loyally, and helps them see where they fit in as consumers and volunteers.

Learn more about Kelsey Timmerman here:

Kesley Timmerman
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Bart D. Ehrman, Ph.D., M.Div.

Professor of Religious Studies, New Testament Scholar - UNC Chapel Hill, NC

Currently the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar who questions the existence of God. According to the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, he is one of North America's leading scholars in his field, having written and edited 27 books, including three college textbooks. He has also achieved acclaim at the popular level, authoring five New York Times bestsellers. Ehrman's work focuses on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the development of early Christianity.

Learn more about Bart D. Ehrman here:

Bart D. Ehrman, Ph.D., M.Div.
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Michael Pollan

Author, Professor of Journalism - UC Berkley - Berkley, CA

For the past twenty-five years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in the built environment. He is the author of "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation" (2013) and of four New York Times bestsellers: "Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual" (2010); "In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto" (2008); "The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals" (2006) and "The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World" (2001). The "Omnivore’s Dilemma" was named one of the ten best books of 2006 by both the New York Times and the Washington Post. Pollan was named to the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 Most Influential People. In 2009 he was named by Newsweek as one of the top 10 “New Thought Leaders.” In addition to teaching, he lectures widely on food, agriculture, health and the environment.

Learn more about Michael Pollan here:

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Other Suggestions

Please provide suggestions of interesting presenters that we missed.

Distinguished Speaker Series // Community Members

Distinguished Speaker Series // Community Members

Directions

Ben Rector

Dr. Temple Grandin

Dr. Todd Halihan

Jet & Cord McCoy

Jill Donovan

Taya Kyle

Amy Morin

Dr. Clarence B. Jones

Kevin Breel

Peterson Farm Brothers

Kelsey Timmerman

Bart D. Ehrman, Ph.D., M.Div.

Michael Pollan