SPRING 2026 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