SPRING 2025 ACL SPEAKER SCHEDULE
Spring 2026 ACL SPEAKER SCHEDULE
NO CLASS MEETING AT FOOD CITY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7 NOR THURSDAY, APRIL 9
TUESDAY, MARCH 17 | ADAM DICKSON
The Black Experience in Jonesborough
Mr. Dickson has been a featured speaker for Alliance for Continued Learning in the
past, and
we welcome him back to give us a more complete and more inclusive history of Jonesborough.
Mr. Dickson is a community advocate and servant leader. His professional experiences
include local government, higher education, and the non-profit sector. He currently
works for
the City of Johnson City as Multicultural Engagement Manager and oversees the Langston
Center, a multicultural facility promoting community engagement through arts, education,
and
leadership.
Mr. Dickson is Vice-Mayor for the Town of Jonesborough and an Adjunct Instructor
of Political
Science at ETSU. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Carson-Newman University,
a
Master’s in Public Administration from ETSU, and is a graduate of Tennessee’s premier
community leadership organization, Leadership Tennessee.
THURSDAY, MARCH 19 | JEFF AIKEN
Agriculture: Past, Present, and Future
Mr. Aiken lives on the family farm near Limestone where he was born and raised. The
5th
generation of his family is now enjoying life on the farm. The farm operated as a
dairy until
2005 and then converted to raising beef cattle. Today, the Aiken’s operate on nearly
900 acres
in Washington and Greene counties where they have approximately 700 head of cattle
and
grow corn, soybeans, tobacco, and bale hay.
In 2015, Mr. Aiken was elected as president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau, the largest
Farm
Bureau in the country. In this role, he advocated for agriculture policies that would
better serve
Tennessee farmers. He retired from Farm Bureau in 2021 and was appointed Deputy
Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture by Governor Bill Lee. Due
to the
untimely death of his brother Jack in 2024, Mr. Aiken returned to the farm in early
2025.
TUESDAY, MARCH 24 | RICHARD SANDER
Global Sports Leadership at ETSU – A “GREAT” Tradition of Leadership
Dr. Sander will explain the acronym “GREAT” and how it inspires people to be the
best they
can be. Sports programs teach universal lessons that apply to all career paths.
Dr. Sander is Director of the Center for Global Sports Leadership and Executive in
Residence Assistant to the President at ETSU. He led Virginia Commonwealth’s athletic
program for 20
years and was Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at ETSU from 2013-2017. He earned
a B.S.
in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in 1968. He
received
a M. S. in Physical Education from Xavier University in 1974, and a Ph.D. in Education
from the
University of Cincinnati in 1980.
THURSDAY, MARCH 26 | KEDDRAIN “KD” BOWEN
Empowering Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Keddrain “KD” Bowen is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, author,
and
leadership coach. A first generation college graduate, KD is the founder of Mountain
Movers
Leadership and the owner of Fanatics 101, a community-rooted business recognized as
one of
the top sports stores in the country. He previously served as Board Chair of the Johnson
City
Chamber of Commerce and is the current Board President of Good Samaritan Ministries,
one of
the region’s largest non-profits. KD is also a certified John Maxwell Leadership Team
member
and a passionate mentor dedicated to helping others turn adversity into purpose.
What does it take to turn vision into victory? In this inspiring and practical session,
KD shares
his journey from humble beginnings to successful entrepreneur, non-profit leader,
and
international speaker. With engaging stories and hard-earned wisdom, KD explores the
mindset, habits, and resilience needed to navigate entrepreneurship and leadership
in today’s
world. Attendees will walk away with: (1) how to build something from mothing, (2)
why your
story is your superpower, (3) the difference between hustle and legacy, and (4) how
to lead with
impact – at any age or stage. Whether you are an entrepreneur, mentor, or lifelong
learner, this
talk will leave you encouraged and empowered to keep climbing.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31 | CHAD MOORE
Excellence in Education is a Culture
Mr. Moore will share his personal “why”, the purpose and passion that drive his leadership
in
education, and the daily work that turns vision into reality. Grounded in the belief
that
excellence is not an act but a culture, he will explore how schools can cultivate
high
expectations, meaningful relationships, and a deep sense of purpose among students
and staff.
Through real stories, practical strategies, and lessons learned, he will illustrate
how pursuing
excellence in education leads to shaping not just strong students, but stronger communities.
Mr. Moore holds a B.S. and M.Ed. in Education from Middle Tennessee State University,
and
an Ed. Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.
He has
worked as a Middle School and Elementary School teacher in the United States and Indonesia.
He also served as an Elementary School Principal and is currently the Principal of
North Side
Elementary in Johnson City.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2 | REBECCA BECK
Ballad Health History and Career Adventures in Healthcare
An established healthcare leader in the Appalachian Highlands, Ms. Beck currently
serves as
the Chief Executive Officer of Johnson City Medical Center where she oversees all
clinical and
administrative services. Ms. Beck has served at Ballad Health her entire career, dating
back to
2001 when she was an administrative intern at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Ms. Beck graduated from ETSU, earning a B.S. degree in Public Health. In 2003, she
received her first master’s degree from ETSU, and then earned her second master’s
in
Business Administration from King University in 2009. She currently serves on the
boards of
Greater Kingsport Family YMCA, the Branch House Family Center, and the Providence
Medical
Clinic. She also chaired the 2024 United Way of Greater Kingsport campaign.
NO CLASS MEETING AT FOOD CITY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7 NOR THURSDAY, APRIL 9
TUESDAY, APRIL 14 | MICHAEL BUFANO
The Politics of Modern Slavery and International Migration in North Africa and Beyond
Dr. Bufano will discuss the reasons for the decline in traditional slavery across
the globe as
well as the causes of the rise of modern slavery and its ties to mass migration and
globalization.
This phenomenon is found not only in regions of the developing world such as North
Africa, but
in more developed regions such as North America.
Dr. Bufano is a professor of Political Science at ETSU. He received a B.S. in education
and a
Master’s in History from Clemson University, with a focus on the Middle East and North
Africa.
While leading a Social Studies Department at a high school in Egypt for 8 years, he
lived
through a revolution and a military coup, all while obtaining a second Master’s in
Political
Science at the American University of Cairo. Returning to the United States, he received
a
Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Alabama. Since then, he has conducted
research
in Mauritania and Tunisia on the topics of democratic backsliding, social movements,
political
Islam, and migration
THURSDAY, APRIL 16 | JENNIFER CLEMENTS
The ETSU Martin Center for the Arts – “Dreams Beyond Dreams”
The arts enhance the lives of people worldwide. Ms. Clements will tell us the story
of this
wonderful cultural facility, of the people who made this dream come true, and of the
bright
future for the ETSU Martin Center.
Ms. Clements is a native of Unicoi County, a graduate of Ohio Northern University
with a B. S.
in Management and Accounting, and a graduate of ETSU with an MBA. She is the inaugural
Executive Director of the Martin Center. She has chaired the Johnson City Christmas
Parade for
the past several years, serves as a board member of the Blue Plum Organization, Hands
On
Discovery Center, Frontier Health Foundation, Johnson City Junior League, and advocates
for
Donate for Life. She was honored by the Business Journal of the Tri-Cities as one
of the region’s
“40 under 40” leaders. Ms. Clements and her husband Jeff reside in Johnson City with
their
daughter and 3 dogs.
TUESDAY, APRIL 21 | JENNY BROCK
Johnson City – A Tradition of Excellence: Past, Present, and Future
Vice-Mayor Jenny Brock will review Johnson City’s tradition of excellence and address
recent
accomplishments and current issues the city faces in preparing for a bright future.
Ms. Brock has served on the Johnson City Commission since 2013. Prior to that, she
served
on the Johnson City Board of Education for six years. She has a Physical Education
degree
from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, an Exercise Science degree from ETSU,
and
completed studies in international management at the University of Texas
THURSDAY, APRIL 23 | JOHN DOBKEN and BRADEN STOVER
Nuclear Energy: History and Applications for a Peaceful and Prosperous Future
Mr. Dobken and Mr. Stover will review the history of nuclear energy technology. They
will
discuss important applications ranging from weapons of war to a variety of peaceful
uses,
including climate friendly alternatives to the burning of fossil fuels.
Mr. Dobken is Senior Manager, Media and Public Relations at BWX Technologies, Inc.
He
develops and executes strategic public relations and social media programs for BWX,
focusing
on enhancing brand visibility and reputation. Also, he manages media relations and
crisis
communication efforts to ensure timely and effective responses.
Mr. Stover is Chief Policy Officer for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community
Development (TNECD). TNECD attracts corporate investments to Tennessee and works with
Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth.
TUESDAY, APRIL 28 | TONY PITTARESE, Ph.D
The BlueSky Tennessee Institute: A Game-Changing Public/Private Partnership
In 2019, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee began working with ETSU to develop a plan
to
address their workforce while creating new opportunities for student engagement. This
resulted
in the BlueSky Tennessee Institute, a 27-month accelerated B.S. in Information Systems.
This
provides students an opportunity to earn a college degree in Computing at no cost
to the
student. Students engage in work-based learning internships throughout their studies,
and
they are offered a full-time job at BlueCross BlueShield Tennessee upon graduation,
which they
are not obligated to accept.
Dr. Pittarese, Dean of ETSU’s College of Business and Technology, has over 30 years
in
higher education leading program development, accreditation, and partnerships at the
intersection of business and technology. He co-founded the BlueSky Tennessee Institute
with
BlueCross BlueShield, preparing students for careers in cybersecurity, data analytics,
and
software development.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30 | MARK A. FULK
Are We Living Through a Constitutional Crisis?
Dr. Mark Fulks will discuss the principles of the United States Constitution and
explain how
these principles apply to current controversies.
Dr. Fulks is a lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, and professor of Law, Political Science,
and Public
Management. Over his 27-year legal career, he has litigated countless constitutional
law issues
in both State and Federal Courts of Tennessee. He has taught American Constitutional
Law at
ETSU for the past seven years, and has published a number of articles on constitutional
law
topics