CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) - The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will host speakers in its spring program focusing on public service, politics and philanthropy.
“Our guests are focused on different approaches to public service and the honorable practice of politics,” said John Shaw, institute director.
The speakers include:
Theresa Claiborne - first black woman pilot to serve in the United States Air Force
Claiborne will give a lecture on Thursday, March 26.
ADVERTISEMENT
She will discuss her military career, the path to becoming a pilot and the lessons she learned.
The reception will begin at 5 p.m. at the Student Center’s John W. Corker Lounge, and the lecture will begin at 6 p.m. at the SIU Student Center Ballroom B.
The lecture is sponsored by the William and Molly Norwood Lecture Series Endowment.
Melissa Connelly - CEO of OneGoal
Connelly will join Shaw for a fireside conversation on Tuesday, March 31, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
The conversation will be about OneGoal helping students from underserved communities complete postsecondary education. Collelly will also speak about her journey as a first-generation student and her experience in the education field.
The program will take place in the Varsity Center, 418 Illinois Ave.
Robert Pape - professor of political science at the University of Chicago
Pape will give the Morton-Kenney Lecture on Friday, April 3 at 5 p.m.
The speech will take place at the SIU Student Center Ballroom B.
Russell Coleman - attorney general of Kentucky
Attorney General Coleman will join “Pizza & Politics” on Thursday, April 16, inside the Forestry Building on SIU’s campus.
The event will focus on Attorney General Coleman’s career in politics and his role as attorney general.
The event will begin at 12:30 p.m., and pizza will be provided.
Timothy Knight - president of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
ADVERTISEMENT
Knight will join Shaw for a fireside conversation at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., on Thursday, April 30.
Knight will discuss his career in law, journalism and philanthropy and how it shaped his leadership at the foundation.
The discussion will begin at 5 p.m.
For more information on the events and to register, click here.
Illinois State Rep. Ryan Spain will also visit in the spring. The date has not been announced yet.
The institute will also continue hosting monthly Zoom events as part of its “Understanding Our New World” discussion series.
Copyright 2026 KFVS. All rights reserved.