Sherman, Texas -- The Austin College Pre-Law Society, the Austin College Student Assembly, and the Austin College Hatton W. Sumners Scholarship program will sponsor the 17th annual Public Administration Symposium: Higher Education, Industry, and Government in Cooperative Partnership: The Texoma Tech Hub, to be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Wright Campus Center, Mabee Hall. Thanks to the generosity of the Sumners Foundation of Dallas and the Austin College Student Assembly, the symposium and luncheon are free for all those who register by October 31.
Speakers from the industrial, governmental, and education sectors will address the challenges and opportunities in making Sherman and the Texoma region an unexpected world center of technological innovation and development, rivaling the most innovative and productive areas in the United States and the world.
The Austin College Public Administration Symposium was founded by Dr. Frank Rohmer, John D. Moseley Chair of Government and Public Policy, and Hatton W. Sumners Scholars in 2008 to bring together government officials, corporate leaders, interested citizens, students, and faculty into dialogue about the greatest issues facing government at the local and regional level.
The event will be divided into three sessions:
Panel I: Corporate Leaders
Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Moderator: Dr. Michael Higgs, Austin College Professor of Mathematics and Science, Dean of Science
Panelists:
- Brent Omdahl, SVP Government Affairs, Global Wafers America
- Suzanne Hill, Director of Clinical Research and Development, Strike Photonics
- Jeff Brown, Jeff Brown Technology Consulting, LLC
Panel II: Government Officials
Time: 11 a.m. – Noon
Moderator: Dr. Nate Bigelow, Austin College Professor of Political Science and International Studies
Panelists:
- Kent Sharp, President of Sherman Economic Development Corporation
- James Grimsley, Executive Director, Advanced Technology Initiatives Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and Regional Innovation Officer for the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub (TSTH)
- Pritiben Patel, Senior Economic Development Manager, North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Janie Bates, Executive Director, Workforce Solutions Texoma
Keynote Luncheon
Time: Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Dr. David Griffith, Austin College Professor and Director of Strategic Programs, TSTH Executive Board Member
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
