conference speakers

Jim Davis, creator of the character “Garfield,” will entertain us with his wit and talent while sharing the importance 4-H played in his life growing up in rural Indiana. “Showing beef cattle, I had to keep accurate records of the feeding and care of each animal, as well as doing the training and grooming. Anyone who didn’t have a good work ethic before joining 4-H certainly does afterwards. The 4-H meetings and trips were among my only social experiences as a boy on the farm. Some of the friendships I forged there are still alive today. As president of the Lake Galatia chapter, I learned a lot about organization and leadership (the hard way).”

Dr. Eric J. Jolly, vice president and senior scientist at the Education Development Center, is highly recognized in the field of research and academia, as an author of books, articles and curricula in 16 countries and through a national radio call-in program and two weekly newspaper columns. He authored the curricula “Bridging Homes and Schools” and “Beyond Blame: Reacting to the Terrorist Attack.” Dr. Jolly works with youth, families and communities through organizations such as Youth Alive! and American Youth Policy Forum. Contributions to mathematics and science education lead to being a founding partner of the national “Collaboration for Equity” project and co-director of “Access by Design” a technology project of the National Science Foundation. Dr. Jolly is fluent in several languages, including sign language.

Jhane Myers is a full blooded American Indian of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma and the Gros Ventre, Blackfeet and Assiniboine Tribes of Montana. Jhane has served the State of Oklahoma as the Director of American Indian Projects for the Oklahoma Centennial Commission and held the position of Account Executive for the New York based Ralph Lauren Fragrance Division. A lifelong dancer Jhane is the Schemitzun 2002 World Championship of Dance Women's Southern Buckskin Champion and the 2002 Gathering of Nations Southern Buckskin Champion.

Rhett Laubach is a speaker, author, leadership teacher and Director of Food Service for Kennedy Foods. His material is applicable and valuable for both student and professional audience members. High School Student R. Schneider says, “I’ve always been a quiet person and thought of myself as more of a ‘follower’ rather than a ‘leader.’ Your definition of a leader made me think otherwise. Thanks for being such a positive influence and a great role model for the younger generations.” Big Brothers/Big Sisters Executive Director, S. Storm-Brown says, “I’m not quite sure how you did it, but in 20 short minutes you brought to light where the focus needs to be and where the energy does not need to go. You reminded all of us why we are here. It’s all about the kids and you helping us will help us do a better job for them!”

Dr. George Henderson is a pioneer among African American college and university educators in Oklahoma. In 1969 he became the first African American in Oklahoma to hold an endowed professorship. To date he has been awarded four distinguished professorships for excellence in teaching, research and service. Dr. Henderson served as dean of the College of Liberal Studies at the University of Oklahoma and is currently the director of the Department of Human Relations Advanced Studies Program. He is author or co-author of 29 books and more than 50 articles. His books include Cultural Diversity in the Workplace; Social Work Interventions: Helping People of Color; Understanding Indigenous and Foreign Cultures; and Human Relations Issues in Management and Rethinking Ethnicity and Health Care. His goal is to provide an environment where participants can gain basic knowledge needed to effectively interact with people from other cultural backgrounds.

Frosty Troy is editor, critic, commentator and humorist. He is editor of the award-winning Oklahoma Observer, an independent journal of politics, government and social issues. The Observer has won more than four-dozen journalism awards. In an era of weasel words and gutless politics, he is a blunt, dynamic champion of good government. He was a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize and has headed both state capitol and Washington newspaper bureaus. Frosty’s honors include the Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award, which he shared with ABC’s Peter Jennings. It was for his vigorous defense of public education across America. The Observer’s motto is: “To comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”