Theme: Out on a Limb

An event where ideas were presented on Community Action, Science, Social Change, and Education, and where deep conversations were held among audience members.

Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center
2nd Street and Garland Godfrey Drive
c/o 100 North University Avenue
Edmond, Oklahoma, 73034
United States

Bowlsey

Comprised of individual members vocalist Cidward St. Cler, rapper and instrumentalist Shraz Mercier, Rev. Juz10 Hogun jumping across an array of instruments, and drummer/percussionist Donald Eisenberg, Bowlsey weaves a web of indie alternative hip hop infused with sultry soul and lounge-fi atmosphere

Post Oak Trio

Dr. Dawn Marie Lindblade, clarinet Dr. Robert Glaubitz, baritone Dr. Sallie Pollack, piano

Rachel Brashear

Rachel Brashear is a performer and songwriter based out of Oklahoma City, OK. She is a pianist and guitarist that focuses on unique and artistic songwriting inspired by artists such as Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell. Rachel has released two EPs (Ink Blot and Revolution) and most recently, Songs From a Cave. This most recent work received media attention and critical acclaim from the music community of Oklahoma for its complex musicality, clever lyricism, and raw emotion.

UCO 5th Street Strutters Dixieland Band

The 5th Street Strutters personnel: Marcus Shields – trumpet, Taylor Etheridge – clarinet and sax, Matt Goodwin – trombone, Leif Nevener – banjo and guitar, Sean Gold – tuba and Garrett Johnson - drums.

UCO Jazz Composers Combo

This is a combo intended for high-level jazz students wishing to focus primarily on original compositions and arrangements. The group is now led by UCO professor emeritus Mr. Lee Rucker, whose work at UCO since 1980 has been paramount to the development and success of our current jazz program. Logan Gorrell - saxophone; Bret Steed - trombone; Garrison Brown - trumpet; Alyssa Kozlowski - piano; Brian Belanus - guitar; Stephen Schultz - bass; Oliver Holden-Moses - drums

Amy Johnson

Amy Johnson received a BFA in Graphic Design from Iowa State University and then completed her MFA at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Johnson currently teaches graphic design at the graduate and undergraduate level at the University of Central Oklahoma where she also serves as the Chair of the Department of Design. She is the academic director of the recently opened letterpress and prototyping lab. In 2012 she was named an AIGA Fellow. Amy lives in Oklahoma City with two dogs, a cat and a very large horse.

Caleb Lack

Caleb Lack is a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he specializes in scientific skepticism and critical thinking, OCD and related problems, and innovative teaching. He regularly presents at research and conducts training conferences both nationally and internationally. In addition, he is the author or editor of six books and over 40 peer reviewed journal articles or book chapters.

Cameron Neal

Cameron Neal is the lead singer and guitarist in the folk rock band Horse Thief. Horse Thief has a worldwide recording contract with the London-based Bella Union Records. Neal originates from Denton, TX, but currently calls Oklahoma City, OK his home. He graduated from the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma with an AAS degree in Guitar Performance. Performance.

Cia Verschelden

Cia is the Executive Director of Institutional Assessment at UCO. She has been teaching at universities since 1989 in social work, women’s studies, American ethnic studies, and nonviolence studies. At UCO, she teaches in sociology and in the first-year experience program. Cia has a B.S. in psychology from K-State, an MSW from The University of Connecticut, and an Ed.D. from Harvard University. She is the parent of two homemade daughters and two adopted sons.

Daniela Perieda

Founder of Bilingual Family, a Spanish immersion school for children in Oklahoma City. Daniela helps parents create meaningful relationships with their children while learning Spanish. She believes teachers and families play an important role in the development of the WHOLE child. For this reason, her goal is to create a community of bilingual families!

Frank Evans

Frank D. Evans is a Data Scientist with Exaptive, Inc., an Oklahoma City based data analytics software company. He works heavily with big data technologies with a primary interest in machine learning and feature engineering. Frank additionally is a 2008 graduate of the UCO College of Business with a Masters in Business Administration, and a 2014 graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a Masters Specialization in Data Science.

Jeff King

Jeff King, Ed.D., is Executive Director of UCO’s Center for Excellence in Transformative Teaching and Learning. His research and application interests have long focused on what faculty can do to help students learn, to be motivated toward deep learning strategies, and to persist in their education. A decades-long study of educational beliefs held by faculty and students and how to change the limiting beliefs has found its way into his work at UCO.

John Maisch

John A. Maisch has served as an Assistant Professor teaching Business Law at the University of Central Oklahoma since 2012. Maisch previously served as the General Counsel for the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission from 2008-2012, and as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma from 1996-2001. He graduated from the University of Tulsa Law School in 1995 and Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska, in 1992. Since leaving the ABLE Commission in 2012, Maisch’s focus has been on the impact of alcohol policy on high-risk populations. His documentary, Sober Indian | Dangerous Indian, examines Nebraska’s predatory beer sales and its impact on the residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Josh Freeman

Josh Freeman is a graduate student in UCO’s Library Media Education program. He graduated from The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science and a love of interdisciplinary study. His interests have since expanded to span the full spectrum of academic study. As a future school librarian, he is most enthusiastic about his opportunity to build connections between dissimilar subjects to spark student interest.

Kato Buss

Kato Buss is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts. He has over twenty years’ experience as an actor, director, playwright, and teacher. Dr. Buss holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Oregon. His work has been published in the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, Western States Theatre Review, and the North- Northwest Anthology of New Plays. Kato is an awarding winning teacher and mentor. At UCO, he teaches acting, directing, and theatre history.

Katrina Shaklee

During her last semester of graduate school, Katrina Shaklee was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Her degree was in sport administration and she began to dream of an event for athletes with physical disabilities. In June 2000, the Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities was held and has taken place every year since. Shaklee joined UCO in 2004 and is now the Senior Director of the Wellness Center. She was a torchbearer for the Salt Lake City Olympic Games and was a press officer for the Beijing Paralympic Games. She has been listed among The Journal Record’s 50 Making a Difference, and the Oklahoma Hospitality Club honored her as one of ten “Women in the News”. In 2014, David Frisk featured her in his book Legendary Locals of Edmond. This past year, Shaklee was selected as one of Alpha Chi Omega’s inaugural Women of Distinction award winners. She and her husband, J.D. have been married for 16 years.

Mark Kinders

Mark Kinders is the Vice President of Public Affairs at UCO. In a private pursuit, he is the vice president of the American Association for Runic Studies. AARS investigates North American runes in affiliation with Uppsala University in Sweden, and the Swedish Council of America, and partners with the Smithsonian Institution and other universities. Kinders holds a master’s in history (University of Wisconsin-River Falls) and a doctorate in higher education (University of Arkansas).

Michael Knopp

Mike Knopp left his successful legal career in 2003 to establish the Oklahoma City University varsity rowing program and assume the position of executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation. As a graduate from Edmond Memorial High School, Mike went on to Oklahoma State University where he graduated with a BBA in economics in 1994. He then completed a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 1997. Mike currently serves on the boards of Leadership Oklahoma City, Last Frontier Council Executive Board Member of Boy Scouts of America, USA Canoe/Kayak, Bricktown Association, and Creativity Oklahoma. Mike also sits on the MAPS 3 citizen’s oversight committee for the Oklahoma River projects. Mike and his wife, Tempe, have established a home in northeast Oklahoma City.

Stevie Johnson

Stevie Johnson is Special Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs & Advisor for the Black Male Initiative & Fellows Program at the University of Central Oklahoma. Stevie received his Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science and Master of Education in Student Affairs from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Johnson is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Higher Education Administration at the University of Oklahoma.