What Other Speakers Have Been Featured on SUNY Broome’s Convocation Day?
Past speakers at SUNY Broome’s Convocation Day include poet Carolyn Forché, whose most recent book of poems is Blue Hours; Elizabeth Kolbert, author of Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change; Daniel W. Drezner, who spoke about globalization; Barry Glassner, author of The Culture of Fear; and Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation. Like many other colleges and universities, SUNY Broome tries to provide students with an exciting and memorable extracurricular academic experience to stimulate thought, discussion, and further study.
How Are Convocation Speakers Selected, and Where Do I Send My Suggestions for Future Speakers?
In the past, Convocation speakers have been recommended by faculty committees, Phi Theta Kappa faculty advisers, students in Phi Theta Kappa, and other members of the campus community. The selection of the Convocation speaker depends on several factors, including the relevance of proposed speakers to the current campus theme, the academic credentials and serious accomplishments of proposed speakers, the fees asked for by proposed speakers, and the availability of proposed speakers.
If you would like to recommend a future Convocation Speaker, send your suggestion by e-mail to byrnesij@sunybroome.edu. Include the name of the speaker, a brief (1 to 3 lines) biography of the speaker, and your reasons for thinking s/he should be invited to campus. Also, please identify yourself as faculty, student, or staff and provide your full name, e-mail address, and phone number.
Why Should I Attend Convocation Day Activities?
Beyond the value of Convocation Day activities to you as an opportunity for an extracurricular academic experience and interactions on campus, the activities provide other benefits. Because your professors recognize the importance of Convocation, many of them will require you to attend Convocation Day activities or offer you extra credit options for doing so . . . or both! (Note that for this year’s April 18, 2023 Convocation Day, day and evening classes are not in session, and all Convocation Day activities will take place in person). Most four-year colleges and universities have Convocations as well, so your participation here at SUNY Broome can prepare you to take full advantage of those future events. Finally, Convocation Day is a valuable pre-professional activity since many corporations hold similar events that they require all employees to attend.
Who Are the Current Members of SUNY Broome’s Convocation Committee?
SUNY Broome’s Convocation Committee is a cross-divisional effort with student representation under the aegis of Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Dean and Associate Vice-President of both the Liberal Arts Division and the Business and Professional Studies Division.
- Professor Irene Byrnes (Chair)
- Professor Diane O’Heron, Liberal Arts Division
- Dr. Robert Congdon, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Division
- Librarian Amanda Hollister, Library
- Professor Gian Roma, Business and Public Administration Division
- Dr. Virginia Shirley, Liberal Arts Division
Where Can I Learn About All of the Free Film Screenings, Book Discussions, and Presentations Being Offered by the Campus in Spring 2023?
Please visit the Academic Events website to find Free Extra Curricular Events.
For More Information or If You Have Other Questions
If you need more information about Convocation Day or if you have other questions that this newsletter has not answered, please contact Irene Byrnes at 607-778-5311 or at byrnesij@sunybroome.edu.
