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Annual Meant to Live event focuses on interdisciplinary education, features Chicago Library CEO Brian Bannon ’97
Annual Meant to Live event focuses on interdisciplinary education, features Chicago Library CEO Brian Bannon ’97
Image: Janice Brunstrom-Hernandez, MD, ’83 speaks at the Meant to Live lecture during Homecoming 2015. (Photo by John Froschauer/PLU)
By Kari Plog '11
PLU Marketing & Communications
TACOMA, WASH. (Oct. 6, 2016)- Every year during Homecoming, the Wild Hope Center for Vocation and the alumni office sponsor the Meant to Live conference. Featured alumni come back to campus and share their personal stories of vocation with fellow Lutes.
It shows that vocational discernment doesn’t end with graduation.
“We’re trying to highlight how the educational mission applies beyond campus and the PLU experience,” said Joel Zylstra ’05, director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service.
The first part of Meant to Live this year comes in the form of a panel discussion on interdisciplinary studies Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Scandinavian Cultural Center.
Zylstra will moderate a discussion with women’s and gender studies alumna Kate Fontana ’08, global studies alumna Anna McCracken ’14 and environmental studies alumna Saiyare Refaei ’14. They will reflect on their time at PLU and how their majors influenced and continue to affect their lives and careers.
Brian Bannon ’97 is this year’s Meant to Live keynote speaker, scheduled for Friday at 1:45 p.m. in the Scandinavian Cultural Center. Bannon has served as commissioner and chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Library system since 2012. He has nearly 20 years of experience developing and implementing innovative educational programs and leading large-scale operations that provide digital skills training, community-based learning and educational advancement for children, families and adults.
Bannon was one of the first queer leaders on campus and was active in drama. He also was a member of the PLU swim team.