Kristine Servais and William Muck to give Last Lecture

North Central College students voted to invite two faculty members—Kristine Servais, associate professor of education, and William Muck, assistant professor of political science—to speak at the annual Last Lecture. The free event will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, in Smith Hall at Old Main. A dessert reception will follow the event.

Servais will give a lecture titled “Lessons in Leadership: Lollipops, Lions, and Lobsters.” Muck will discuss “Oh, the Places You’ll Go! ... And Why You Should Care about Everyone You Meet on the Way.” This year’s College Union Activities Board (CUAB) invited two speakers, who were among the top vote-getters, to represent two different majors, education and political science. CUAB also chose a theme for the 2014 lecture: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” from Dr. Seuss.

Servais joined North Central’s faculty in 2002 and earned her Ed.D. from Northern Illinois University. She has served as a middle school and elementary teacher, middle school assistant principal and principal, and is the graduate coordinator in education at North Central. Servais has provided extensive outreach to partner with area school districts, including Naperville 203, Indian Prairie 204, Oswego 308 and East Aurora 131. She has coauthored two books directed at future leaders: “The Courage to Grow: Leading with Intentionality” (2012) and “The Courage to Lead: Choosing the Road Less Traveled” (2005). She serves as the faculty mentor for the College’s women’s lacrosse team and will retire in June 2014.

Prior to arriving at North Central in 2008, Muck taught at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock after receiving his doctorate from the University of Colorado. Muck oversees the College’s global studies and Model UN programs, co-coordinates the Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research and teaches a variety of courses on international politics. A favorite teacher among North Central students, Muck received the 2010 Dissinger Award for Junior Faculty.

Like many colleges and universities nationwide, North Central has adopted the concept of The Last Lecture where faculty talk to their students as if it was their last. This is the seventh year the College Union Activities Board (CUAB) has sponsored North Central’s Last Lecture.

Previous North Central last lecturers include Al Carius, professor of health and physical education, head men’s cross country coach and associate head men’s track and field coach, 2013; Harold Wilde, president emeritus, 2012; Lou Corsino, professor of sociology, 2011; Susan Mack, visiting instructor of education, 2010; Perry Hamalis, Cecilia Schneller Mueller Professor of Religion, associate professor of religious studies and director of academic opportunities, 2009; and Stephen Maynard Caliendo, professor of political science, 2008.