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Connections are at the heart of the annual Public Affairs Conference 2026 at Missouri State University.
Themed “The We Factor: Building Connections That Matter,” this year’s conference from Sept. 29-Oct. 1 will explore how the connections we build can strengthen our communities. It's free and open to the public and features in-person speakers, live virtual panels and pre- and post-conference events.
Dr. Kevin Evans, 2026 public affairs fellow, conference chair and professor of geology, and Stacey Trewatha-Bach, assistant director of public affairs support, share more.
Full transcript:
This is the Missouri State Journal, featuring interviews on a variety of topics with members of the Missouri State University community.
Connections are at the heart of the annual Public Affairs Conference 2026 at Missouri State University.
Themed “The We Factor: Building Connections That Matter,” this year’s conference from Sept. 29th-Oct. 1st will explore how the connections we build can strengthen our communities. Free and open to the public, it features in-person speakers, live virtual panels and pre- and post-conference events. I’m Emily Yeap.
Joining me today to share more are Dr. Kevin Evans, 2026 public affairs fellow, conference chair and professor of geology, and Stacey Trewatha-Bach, assistant director of public affairs support.
“This year the theme is “The We Factor: Building Connections That Matter.” We're all about the three pillars at Missouri State University. We have a statewide mission in public affairs. And so this is one of those opportunities where we get to narrow down, kind of tunnel in on one of those pillars, and that's going to be community engagement. So, we like to get our students involved with this, the earlier the better. So, it's not only are they going to learn their craft here at Missouri State University? We also want them to learn how to live,” said Evans.
He highlights a special keynote appearance from actor and writer Rainn Wilson at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 in Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Wilson’s presentation was originally scheduled for Sept. 29.
“He played the character Dwight Schrute on The Office, that award-winning television show. He's going to be with us, and he's going to talk about his spiritual journey. He's actually a podcaster these days as well as an actor and a director and filmmaker and so forth. He's got a podcast that's called Soul Boom, and Soul Boom is all about his experience and bringing in the relationship to his spirituality into all aspects of his life. In the podcast, I think he's had over 100 episodes with various people. I've listened to quite a few of them, actually, a very interesting guy,” said Evans.
There are a wide variety of sessions designed to spark conversation, encourage connection and explore issues that affect our communities, according to Trewatha-Bach.
“The ‘We Factor’ with this year's public affairs theme is about social connection. And so, we are looking at social connectiveness and the benefits of being in relationship with each other. So, this year's virtual panels will feature just over 60 expert speakers. And interestingly enough, they come from 17 different states and represent six different countries. And so, we will get a wide variety of perspectives and insights in regard to that ‘We Factor’ and why building connections matter so much,” she said.
In addition, four in-person plenary speakers will present in the Plaster Student Union Theater – Alex Los, team coach; Pete Davis, writer and civic advocate; Marielle Segarra, NPR reporter and host; and Ethan Bryan, author, storyteller and community advocate.
Two pre-conference events on Sept. 29th will set the stage.
“One is definitely looking at that partnership between the university and its communities. We will be doing a panel and a discussion about how business and organizations in and around Springfield can partner with the university to best serve our students,” said Trewatha-Bach. “We also have a special event called Conversation Circles. That will involve anybody who wants to come from the public. We will have small group discussions where we get to learn more about each other, and that may, as well, entail a lot of our international students. So, we get to learn about culture and different topics of concern with our students and just being able to bridge that social connectedness.”
The conference wraps up on Oct. 2nd with a community play day that includes kickball and catch. What do organizers hope students take away from the conference?
“This year is the 23rd Annual Public Affairs Conference, and being that the theme is about building those connections, we really hope our students here have and find a connection in our community. And so, I think this is going to be a special conference week where students can find that they do have a connection. And with that public affairs mission here at the university, that's what we're about, is growing that Citizen Bear,” said Trewatha-Bach. We like to be able to, yes, give them a fantastic education but also give them the skills and the understanding that they have a place in their communities, wherever that may end up, to participate and to build connections and use that education for helping solve some of the problems in our communities that we will always face.”
Visit publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/2026 to get more details about the conference. I'm Emily Yeap for the Missouri State Journal.
