Rich Mikan, cofounder of the World Hospital Project, will be the
keynote speaker at the luncheon for the 15th annual Illinois State
University Conference for Students of Political Science. His presentation,
“Apathy To Action: A Journey To Becoming An Advocate,” is free and open to
the public, starting at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23, in the Bone Student
Center Circus Room.
An Illinois State alumnus, Mikan has spent the last 20 years working in the entertainment industry as a producer and video editor. A two time Emmy Award winner, his credits include the Oprah Winfrey Show, Extra, Access Hollywood, Judge Mathis, Disney, CBS Network, NBC Network and the feature film Shoot Or Be Shot, starring William Shatner. Currently he is the lead editor of on-air promotion for American Idol at the Fox Network.
Mikan is an advocate and volunteer for Food for the Hungry, International Justice Mission and the Chronicle Project. Last fall, he and his wife Carol founded World HospitalProject.org to build hospitals and hope in developing countries. Mikan believes “once we know about how people are suffering around the world we cannot be silent. We must make an effort to improve their lives.”
The conference, sponsored by the Department of Politics and Government and the Pi Sigma Alpha honorary society, will also feature 12 panels of political science research presentations by students representing 24 colleges and universities. The panels are also open to the public, beginning at 8:30 a.m. A complete schedule of presentations is available on the conference website at http://www.politicsandgovernment.ilstu.edu/conference
