Herrera to deliver Society of President’s Scholars’ ‘Last Lecture’ Nov. 14

Dr. Bronson Herrera, an assistant professor of political science in Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, will present this year’s Last Lecture, titled “Who is My Political Neighbor?” 

Dr. Bronson Herrera

The lecture begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Room 2550 in the Garrett-Strong Science Building. It is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by Northwest’s Society of President’s Scholars, the annual event gives a Northwest faculty member the opportunity to speak as if they were presenting the last lecture of their career.

Herrera will address polarization and civil discourse in politics and society and consider how society can transcend partisan considerations.

“We live in a time where gotcha moments make some people famous while others have their lives ruined,” he said. “It is hard to have discussions with those whom we disagree. Some may propose an attitude of avoidance. Yet it is through conversation that we can grow and develop. We let old pieces of our thinking die and create better versions of ourselves.”

The Society of President’s Scholars selected Herrera for the event after gathering input from Northwest students.

“We’ve seen countless examples in recent years of increased partisanship in politics, which to me is one of the greatest threats we face in society,” said Ethan Shutts, a junior computer science and cybersecurity major from Kansas City, Missouri, who serves as president of the Society of President’s Scholars. “I think that this talk will be incredibly relevant to help us mend those rifts and be more open-minded as individuals in the community.”

Herrera, who joined the Northwest faculty in 2018, teaches courses related to policy and public administration.  His academic interests include media and religion in politics as well as morality policy and public administration.

He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University-Idaho as well as master’s and doctorate degrees in political science with emphases on policy and public administration from the University of Kansas.

For more information about the Last Lecture, contact Shutts at S543345@nwmissouri.edu.