Distinguished Speaker Series

The Division of Student Affairs is pleased to announce that the following speakers will participate in the 2010-2011 Distinguished Speaker Series:

  • Jack Hanna
    "An Evening with Jack Hanna"
    Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
    Adler Athletic Complex
  • Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling
    "September 11, 2001: The White House - Leadership in Crisis"
    Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
    Paul R. and Margery Wolf Kuhn Theatre
    Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts

The Penn State Altoona Distinguished Speaker Series are free and open to the public. Tickets are available at the Penn State Altoona Bookstore Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the box office in the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts during posted hours, or at the door if not "sold out" in advance.

Penn State Altoona provides The Distinguished Speaker Series as a student and community service. They are partially sponsored by the Margery Wolf Kuhn Fund, the John and Ann Wolf Family Speakers Series Fund, the Sarah Simonton Fund, and the Student Activities Fee.

Jack Hanna

Jack Hanna

"An Evening with Jack Hanna"
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Adler Athletic Complex

Animal expert “Jungle Jack” Hanna is one of the most visible and respected ambassadors between the human and animal worlds. His hands-on approach and experience with wildlife has won him widespread acclaim as an author, television personality, conservationist, and Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Having cultivated a love for animals on the family farm, Jack spent his teenage summers helping a local veterinarian by cleaning animal cages.

After graduating from Muskingum College, Jack and Suzi, his wife and college sweetheart, opened Pet Kingdom, a successful pet store and petting zoo. From there it was only a few years until Jack was named director of the Central Florida Zoo. Jack took flight in 1978 when he received the opportunity of a lifetime: directorship of the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. The zoo was struggling and in need of rejuvenation when Jack arrived. His keen understanding of public relations sparked this remarkable turnabout and transformed the floundering establishment into the state-of-the-art zoo and aquarium it is today.

Jack has taken his ineffable passion to the airwaves through his successful television program, Jack Hanna’s Into The Wild. Jack and his family take viewers all over the world to visit amazing animals and fascinating cultures. In its first season, Into The Wild was awarded a Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Children’s Series category.

Before Into The Wild debuted in 2007, Jack hosted Hanna’s Ark, Zoo Life, and Animal Adventures – which is still airing in syndication today. Recognized around the country as America’s favorite zookeeper, Jack reveals his contagious enthusiasm for his wild companions. Jack makes countless appearances on television shows including Good Morning America, Larry King Live, The Late Show with David Letterman, Fox News programs, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

A dynamic orator, Jack now enjoys speaking tours across the country, sharing his globe-trotting experiences with thousands of people through his special window into the animal world. Author of eleven books – and counting – his timeless tales continue to captivate audiences of every generation.

Jack is an active supporter of Partners In Conservation, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is also a professional fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Whatever Jack’s role, he will always remain an adventurer at heart, never hesitating to jump at the chance to travel, explore, and support the animal world.

The above information about Jack Hanna is provided by Gotham Artists.

Common

Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling

"September 11, 2001: The White House - Leadership in Crisis"
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Paul R. and Margery Wolf Kuhn Theatre
Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts

In October 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Darling retired from the United States Marine Corps with just over twenty years of active duty service. He flew attack helicopters in Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the first Gulf War and in Somalia, Africa, in support of Operation Restore Hope. In June 1998, he was selected to fly as a presidential pilot with Marine Helicopter Squadron One and in October 2000, he was handpicked to work for the White House Military Office, Airlift Operations Department. It was in that capacity that Lt. Col. Darling supported the President, Vice President and National Security Advisor in the President's Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) on September 11, 2001. In May 2002, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned his MBA in Financial Management and subsequently served as a Program Manager for the Chief of Naval Operations supporting the Department of the Navy Flying Hour Program.

Bob is the author of 24 Hours Inside the President's Bunker, 9/11/01: The White House, and the President of Quantitative Analytics, LLC, an aviation operations and logistics company located in Stafford, Virginia. He is married to the former Angela Paderon of New City, NY. They have two sons, Michael, 17 and Matthew, 14.