We are pleased to announce that Dr. Stephen Brookfield, Distinguished Professor at the University of St. Thomas, will join us and provide the keynote speech, "Teaching in Academically Diverse Classrooms." He will also offer two follow-up discussion sessions. During the conference, Professor Brookfield will be available to sign books. Some of his titles will be sold at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College bookstore and available to purchase online via the MCTC online bookstore (coming soon).

Since beginning his teaching career in 1970, Stephen Brookfield has worked in England, Canada, Australia, and the United States, teaching in a variety of college settings. He has written and edited nine books on adult learning, teaching, and critical thinking, three of which have won the World Award for Literature in Adult Education (in 1986, 1989 and 1996). He also won the 1986 Imogene Okes Award for Outstanding Research in Adult Education. His work has been translated into German, Finnish and Chinese. In 1991 he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from the University System of New Hampshire for his contributions to understanding adult learning. In 2001 he received the Leadership Award from the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) for "extraordinary contributions to the general field of continuing education on a national and international level." He currently serves on the editorial boards of educational journals in Britain, Canada and Australia, as well as in the United States. During 2002 he was a Visiting Professor at Harvard University. In 2003 he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from Concordia University (St. Paul). After 10 years as a Professor of Higher and Adult Education at Columbia University in New York, he now holds the title of Distinguished Professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

OTHER FEATURED CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Faculty Association Presidents
Meeting Educational Challenges During a Time of Decreasing Resources -- Block A: 9:45-10:45
Faculty Association Presidents Larry Oveson, Jim Pehler, and Ed Schones will discuss systemwide perspectives on providing educational excellence in a climate of decreasing resources and changing student populations.

Larry Oveson, Co-President, Minnesota State College Faculty
Larry comes to the Co-Presidency of the Minnesota State College Faculty from his position as librarian and geography instructor at Rainy River Community College in International Falls. He holds degrees from Rainy River Community College, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and St. Cloud State University, with additional graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, Hamline University, and Bemidji State University. He has negotiated the employment contract for two-year college faculty members for 18 years serving in that span as negotiator, and Vice President of Minnesota Community College Faculty Association and President of MCCFA.

Ed Schones, Co-President, Minnesota State College Faculty
Ed earned his Diploma in Construction Electricity from Saint Paul College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Macalester College. He was also awarded a Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Minnesota. Ed has been a classroom teacher at Saint Paul College since 1986 and is currently on full-time leave serving as Co-President of MSCF.

Jim Pehler, President, Inter Faculty Organization
Jim is in his second term serving as President of the Inter Faculty Organization. He is an Associate Professor in Learning Resources & Technology Services at St. Cloud State University, where he is also a past two-term President of the SCSU Faculty Association. He also serves as a board member for the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center and the Friends of Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation. Jim also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, 1973-1980 and in the Minnesota State Senate, 1980-1990.