IRSC Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning Announces 2022-23 distinguished lecture series

One of the most well-known offerings through the Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning at Indian River State College (IRSC) is the popular Distinguished Lecture Series. This series focuses on subjects in science, the arts, environmental concerns, global issues, and education. Lectures will be offered once per month, starting December 8 at the IRSC Massey Campus in Fort Pierce at 10 a.m.

The following lectures comprise the 2022-’23 season:

December 8, 2022:  Matthew Greenhouse
“The James Webb Space Telescope Mission”
Location: IRSC Massey Campus, Fort Pierce.

Matthew Greenhouse has served on the James Webb Space Telescope senior staff as Project Scientist for the Webb science instrument payload since 1997. He specializes in infrared imaging spectroscopy, development of related instrumentation and technologies, flight project science, and technical management.

Greenhouse has served on several NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) flight mission teams. He supported ESA's Infrared Space Observatory mission as a member of the Long Wavelength Spectrometer instrument team. The James Webb Space Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is the largest space telescope ever constructed and will extend humanity's high-definition view of the universe into the infrared spectrum.

January 12, 2023:  Janet Roessler
“Reconnecting to Your Passion and Purpose—Practical Tools to Craft Your Vibrant Life”
Location: IRSC Mueller Campus, Vero Beach

Janet Roessler’s purpose is to connect, inspire, teach and learn by utilizing her curiosity, creativity, wonder, and compassion. These journeys of exploration, whether through speaking, art-making events, or experiential exercises are geared towards getting each of us to connect with our gifts, our passion, and purpose, and getting out of our own way so that we are empowered to take action and contribute our part to make this world better.

Janet is and has been a successful serial entrepreneur in several fields all with the common thread of service, she has been a celebrated bodyworker, intuitive counselor, interior designer, craft artist, painter, poet, sculptor, boutique PR services owner, gallery manager, ritual-maker, minister, Toastmaster, and certified success principles trainer. Always open to the pull of the deeper flows within herself and others, she is always seeking the nudges and tugs of “spirit” and intuition.

February 9, 2023:  William Craig Fugate
“Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season”
Location: IRSC Massey Campus, Fort Pierce.

Craig Fugate served as President Barack Obama’s FEMA Administrator from May 2009 to January 2017. Previously, he served as Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s Emergency Management Director from 2001-07 and Governor Charlie Crist from 2007-09. Fugate led FEMA through multiple record-breaking disaster years and oversaw the Federal Government’s response to major events such as the Joplin and Moore tornadoes, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Matthew, and the 2016 Louisiana flooding.

Fugate set a clear and compelling vision, mission, and priorities for FEMA and relentlessly drove the Agency to achieve better outcomes for survivors. Before his tenure at FEMA, Fugate was widely praised for his management, under Governor Jeb Bush, of the devastating effects of the 2004 and 2005 Florida hurricane seasons (Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Katrina, and Wilma). Craig currently provides senior-level advice and consultation in disaster management and resiliency policy through Craig Fugate Consulting LLC and is a Strategic Consultant for IRSC in the area of emergency management.

March 2, 2023:  Sandra Pearce
“Ethiopia–The Tribes and Traditions”
Location: IRSC Mueller Campus, Vero Beach

Sandra Pearce (McAuley) lives in Okeechobee, Florida, with her husband David McAuley. Sandra has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. She has given up most of her photography work to teach Digital Art. Sandra has earned the Master of Photography, Master of Electronic Imaging, and Craftsman in her national association Professional Photographers of America.

She has traveled to Africa for the past five years and has documented her experiences with photographs. She has been to Ethiopia to visit the remote tribes in the past couple of years where only a few people have traveled. She is working on a travel book about the tribe she has come in contact with. Sandra enjoys the friendships of the many people she has met thru Photography and teaching people to paint in Photoshop.

April 20, 2023: Kimberlie Massnick, Ph.D.
“Cold Cases, College Students and Community Service”

Location: IRSC Massey Campus, Fort Pierce

As an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Indian River State College, Dr. Kimberlie Massnick believes that learning needs to get out of the classroom and into real-life situations. Her teaching styles include staged crime scenes instead of traditional exams, assisting in law enforcement searches, and participating in community opportunities involving the homeless, addicted, and juveniles in need. To be a great educator, she believes one must never stop learning. 

Dr. Massnick’s fascination with criminal justice started during a college psychology lecture on serial killers. That single lesson turned into an extensive career as a criminologist who specializes in sexual offenders and serial killers. She is also a subject matter expert on victimology and forensic psychology. Massnick has her own podcast which is victim centered.

The Distinguished Lecture Series is presented by the Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning. Doors open 30 minutes before the lecture. Lectures last approximately one hour and are followed by a moderated 30-minute question-and-answer session. Registration for the five-part series is $150 per person for new and returning members; $100 per person for lifetime members and peer leaders. If available, individual lecture seats are offered at $35 one week before each of the lectures.

The Distinguished Lecture Series is presented by Indian River State College Foundation and School of Continuing Education. To subscribe to the Distinguished Lecture Series, contact the Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning at 772-462-7880 or visit www.irsc.edu/community. For more information on Lifelong Learning program offerings, visit www.irsc.edu/community/school-of-continuing-education/lifelong-learning.html.

Sandra Pearce

Kimberlie Massnick, Ph.D.

Matthew Greenhouse

 Janet Roessler

William Craig Fugate