Provost’s Speaker Series to bring relevant topics, perspectives to wider audience
by Patrick Reed
January 23, 2025
Beginning this month, Radford University is launching the Provost’s Speaker Series to showcase the expertise and perspectives of university faculty members in new and engaging ways.
Admission to the Provost’s Speaker Series is free and open to all students, faculty and staff, prospective students and the general public.
The first event in this series will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. on the Artis Center Main Stage. Luke Liska, Ph.D., assistant professor in marketing, will present “Navigating the AI Revolution: Leading Communities into a Smarter Future.”
Liska will discuss how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we live, work and connect and explore actionable strategies to harness AI, empowering individuals to make an impact in your community and beyond. Radford students and employees, business leaders and community members will learn how to leverage AI for meaningful change.
Each talk will last approximately 30 minutes with a question-and-answer session to follow. A reception with light refreshments will follow each event.
For all main campus events, parking is free after 6 p.m. Lots A, AA and S are located nearest to the Artis Center.
Upcoming schedule, Provost’s Speaker Series
Tuesday, Jan. 28 (Artis Center Main Stage)
Luke Liska, Ph.D., “Navigating the AI Revolution: Leading Communities into a Smarter Future”
Tuesday, Feb. 18 (Artis Center Main Stage)
Rachel Santos, Ph.D. and Roberto Santos, Ph.D., “Cracking the Code of Crime in Everyday Life”
Cracking the code of how and why crime concentrates helps anticipate future crimes and apply evidence-based strategies that disrupt crime and reduce victimization. Professors Rachel and Roberto Santos, co-directors of the Radford University’s Center for Police Practice, Policy and Research, discuss the importance of understanding the patterns, behaviors and opportunities for crime in our daily lives.
Tuesday, March 18 (Artis Center Main Stage)
Jennifer McDonel, Ph.D., "Building Bridges Through Music: The Transformative Power of Music in Early Childhood Education and Child Development"
Explore the profound impact of music on early childhood development and how it strengthens connections across cognitive, emotional and social learning domains. Learn how evidence-based approaches are guiding the development of curricula that harness music’s power to support and enrich early learning experiences, transforming early education today.
Tuesday, April 22 (Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke)
Sallie Beth Johnson, Ph.D, MPH, "A Picture of Health: How We Create Thriving Communities Together"
What makes a community healthy? It’s more than healthcare—it’s shaped by many factors, such as the air we breathe, food we eat, places we live and work, and relationships we nurture. Everyday forces shape our well-being, determining whether we thrive or struggle with chronic disease—a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Drawing on her 25 years in community health, Johnson will share insights from research and real-world examples of how communities in Virginia are improving health through programs, policy, and partnerships. Included with the talk will be a faculty and student photo exhibit showcasing the often-overlooked ways our surroundings promote health.