oUR 2024 sPEAKERS

Coleman Goulding

Beyond Limits: Space Age Insights for Life

Coleman Goulding is a Junior at Missouri S&T on track to complete an accelerated M.S. in aerospace engineering by Spring 2027. Thus far, he has worked on the University's Mars Rover Design Team, on campus as a fabrication shop supervisor, obtained his amateur radio technician license, and now works on the Missouri S&T Satellite Research Team as Co-Chief Engineer, and on campus as a Senior Resident Assistant. In 2023, he delivered the keynote address at the 66th Annual Goddard Memorial Dinner to over 2,000 members of the space community. While working towards his greatest passion of space exploration, he also always aims to connect with and encourage others to pursue their own great ambitions.

Larry Gragg

STEM Alone Will Not Save Us!

After 44 years of being a historian at Missouri S&T, Larry Gragg is now the University historian. Working for nearly a half century at a premier STEM institution has helped him appreciate both what STEM disciplines can do to improve lives, and the limitations of those disciplines. Larry notes that while STEM disciplines are fundamentally forward-looking and seek to enhance lives in the future, they lack the tools to fully understand the past. That’s where historians play a crucial role. He believes we must look to historians to determine the largest crisis of our times: the collective loss of faith in fundamental institutions in America.

Burton Kelso

Will AI Kill Our Imaginations?

Burton Kelso is the chief technology expert at Integral, an IT support company, as well as an International keynote speaker, and international TV and radio tech expert. His vision is to remove the frustrations and complexity of computers and technology and open people up to a world of new ideas, experiences, and opportunities. He loves technology, has read all of the manuals and is serious about making technology fun, safe, and easy to use for everyone!

Mike Pleimann

How Gen Z Can Defeat Chemistry and Physics

Mike Pleimann currently serves as the Academic Success & Retention Strategist at Missouri S&T, working with campus leadership to guide institution-level initiatives to help students achieve success at higher rates. Mike also works directly with S&T's highest-risk students. Throughout his entire career - teaching high school mathematics, leading S&T's orientation office, and in his current role - Mike has been a change-agent and a student-centered advocate. He is passionate about helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve generational change for their families.

Tara Stone

Creating Wonder: The Power of Storytelling in Pediatric Cancer

Tara Stone is a user experience designer at a SaaS company, a devoted mom to a brave, young son battling leukemia, and an alumna of S&T. Motivated by her firsthand experience with the challenges families face during a cancer diagnosis, she is passionate about transforming pediatric cancer treatment through human-centered design. Tara combines her professional expertise with the emotional power of storytelling to create engaging, comforting narratives that empower children as heroes of their own stories, making each hospital visit more engaging and less daunting.

James Peters

Residential Water Recycling and All The Unexpected Benefits

James Peters is an accomplished executive, with a proven ability to move from vision through development, having created multiple successful international companies. He is a respected leader, able to build highly motivated teams focused on achieving real goals. James is a passionate artist, craftsman, speaker, and innovator. He is extremely creative and talented, able to produce amazing works of art and outstanding professional projects.

Malachi Rein

Unveiling the Hidden Potential of Our Buildings

Malachi Rein is the director of the Building Energy Exchange St. Louis, an initiative dedicated to fostering conversations, connecting partners, building project pipelines, and providing resources to enhance the efficiency of the St. Louis region's building stock at scale. He holds degrees in architectural engineering and communications and has experience in construction, facility, and operations management. He’s dedicated to providing his community with a perspective on the impacts and opportunities of the built environment, helping them to achieve their best selves. A recent graduate of the Leadership St. Louis Program, Malachi was recognized in St. Louis Magazine as one of the "Ones to Watch: St. Louisans Leading Sustainability Initiatives Across the Region".

Robin Verble

We didn’t start the fire: Cultivating resilience in an age of burnout

Robin Verble is a Professor of Biological Science at Missouri University of Science & Technology's Department of Biological Science where she directs the environmental science program. Her research has explored occupational and environmental factors associated with wildland firefighter health, a topic that intersects her personal and professional experiences.