University News
Theme Speaker Series
September 3, 2008
MACOMB -- To celebrate and raise awareness of Western Illinois University's 2008-2009 theme, "Health and Wellness: Challenges and Responsibilities," the University Theme Committee has announced its lineup of internationally-known speakers, which includes an author and television host, the author of the First Year Experience (FYE) common reading and a chef.
The 2008-2009 Speaker Series begins with Koren Zailckas, author of "Smashed," Western's FYE 2008 common reading, who will speak about her experiences with alcohol abuse at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29 in the University Union Grand Ballroom.
Zailckas' story is that of thousands of girls like her who are not alcoholics yet, but who routinely use alcohol as a shortcut to courage and as a stand-in for good judgment. With one stiff sip of Southern Comfort at the age of 14, Zailckas was initiated into the world of drinking. From them on, she drank faithfully, fanatically. In high school, her experimentation led to stomach pumping. In college, her excess gave way to a pattern of self-poisoning that grew more destructive each year.
Kevin Roberts, also known as "The Food Dude," will present a cooking demonstration and discuss healthy food fare at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the WIU-Quad Cities campus and at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the Union Grand Ballroom on the WIU-Macomb campus.
Roberts, the author of "Munchies," is the host of the San Diego-based radio show "The Food Dude,"
and he was also featured on "The Next Food Network Star." He is also the Executive Chef of East Village Tavern & Bowl in San Diego.
"Mind, Body and Spirit" will be presented by Dr. Joan Borysenko at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13 in the Union Grand Ballroom. Borysenko, a pioneer in integrative medicine, is a world-renowned expert in the mind/body connection. Her work has been the foundation of an international health-care revolution that recognizes the role of meaning, and the spiritual dimensions of life, as an integral part of health and healing.
In the early 1980s Borysenko co-founded a mind/body clinic, became licensed as a psychologist and was appointed instructor in medicine at the Harvard Medical School. Her years of clinical experience and research culminated in the 1987 publication of the New York Times best-seller, "Minding the Body, Mending the Mind," which sold more than 400,000 copies. She is also the author or co-author of 13 other books and numerous audio and video programs, including the Public Television special, "Inner Peace for Busy People." Borysenko is the founding partner of Mind/Body Health Sciences, LLC, located in Boulder, CO and is the director of The Claritas Institute Interspiritual Mentor Training Program.
Jean Kilbourne, internationally recognized for her pioneering work on alcohol and tobacco advertising and the image of women in advertising, will kick off the Spring 2009 lecture series with a discussion on women's body images at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the WIU-Quad Cities campus. She will also speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 in the Union Grand Ballroom on the WIU-Macomb campus.
Kilbourne was named by The New York Times Magazine as one of the three most popular speakers on college campuses today. Her book, "Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel," won the Distinguished Publication Award from the Association for Women in Psychology in 2000. She is also known for her award-winning documentaries, "Killing Us Softly," "Slim Hopes" and "Calling the Shots." Kilbourne recently released "So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids," co-authored with Diane E. Levin.
Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of the nationally-syndicated radio program "Loveline" and VH-1's "Celebrity Rehab," will discuss addiction, healthy relationships, sexual health and more beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 in the Union Grand Ballroom. Pinsky is an American board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist. In his role as a medical doctor, Pinsky is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, medical director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, CA, staff member at Huntington Memorial Hospital and is a private practitioner.
The final speaker of the 2008-2009 series is Zen Gray, host of the Bravo television show "Work Out." Gray will lead a workout at the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center at 5 p.m. Monday, March 30, followed by a 7 p.m. fitness presentation in the Union Grand Ballroom.
Gray was featured on seasons one and two of "Work Out," a docu-drama on the lives of personal trainers. She is an A.C.E. certified fitness professional with more than 16 years of experience in group fitness instruction and personal training. Previously, Gray was an award-winning speaker for the Dale Carnegie Training organization and has performed stand-up comedy for more than 10 years. She is a member of the Sirens Society, a group of 100 powerful women that participate in monthly charitable functions, and is also a spokesperson for Project Angel Food, a Los Angeles-based charity that delivers meals to those suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Gray earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, where she was a co-founder of the Women's Weight Lifting Club and member of the Illinettes and Illini Dance Teams.
"The committee felt it was important to focus on our theme of health and wellness from many different avenues – from heathy relationships to alcohol abuse to the connection between mind and body," Ann Comerford, Office of Student Activities director and co-chair of the University Theme Committee, noted.
All presentations are open free to the public. Additional theme-related programs are being organized by various campus departments and organizations for the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters.
"We would like to encourage everyone – students, faculty and community residents – to attend as many of these presentations as possible," added Matt Blankenship, WIU psychology associate professor and co-chair of the University Theme Committee. "The speakers will present many interesting ideas and topics. It is our hope that those who attend will leave the lectures with more knowledge, information and awareness."
For more information on the Speaker Series or the University theme, contact Comerford at
(309) 298-3232 or visit theme.wiu.edu.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: