Robert Stein
Keynote Speaker
Tuesday, October 22
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Robert Stein brings his extensive experience as a museum leader, technology expert and strategist to Shedd’s Guest Experience and Communications division. He champions Shedd’s standards for quality programmatic and exhibit experiences that are science- and conservation-based while inviting guest participation. He provides leadership, access and consistent guidance to ensure all aspects of the guest experience align with the aquarium’s goals.

Stein came to Shedd from the American Alliance of Museums, where he was executive vice president and chief program officer. Before that, he served as deputy director of the Dallas Museum of Art, and at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, he was deputy director for research, technology and engagement.

In the academic world, Stein was assistant director of Indiana University’s Pervasive Technology Lab and senior visualization programmer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois. He began his career as a scientific simulation and graphics specialist, but even as a child, he had an aquatic connection as an avid fish hobbyist.

Stein is also an author, speaker and consultant, addressing the impact of museums in their communities and how technology and metrics benefit museum innovation and improvement. Stein earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Robert Stein is speaking in place of Bridget C. Coughlin, Ph.D. who has an unavoidable conflict. 

Mark A. Puente 
Judging or Joining? Conscious Actions for Inclusion
Tuesday, October 22
1:30 - 3:45 p.m.

Mark A. Puente is the Director of Diversity and Leadership Programs at the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), a position he’s held since March of 2009. In this capacity, Puente directs all aspects of the Association’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and leadership development programs, and serves as the ARL staff liaison to the ARL Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Puente designs and administers numerous programs that seek to recruit people of color into careers in academic and research libraries and archives. Puente directs or serves on the faculty or on advisory groups to numerous leadership development programs such as the ARL Leadership Fellows Program, the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries’ Leadership Fellows Program, the Archives Leadership Institute, and the Southeastern Museum Conference Leadership Institute. A frequent clinician, speaker, facilitator, and writer, Puente also works with numerous organizations (i.e. library, archive, museum, K-12 education) on issues of racial equity, diversity recruitment and retention, organizational climate, strategies for accelerating change in organizational culture, inclusion in the workplace, strategic planning, and numerous other topics.  Puente has worked extensively with organizations and institutions across the United States and Canada and has presented internationally. 

Andrea Beaty
Youth Services Forum Author Breakfast
Wednesday, October 23
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Andrea Beaty is the author of Iggy Peck, Architect; Rosie Revere, Engineer; and Ada Twist, Scientist; among other children’s titles. She is an advocate for STEM and her books have been read around the globe and in space on board the International Space Station. For all things Questioneers, visit questioneers.com.

Eugenia Cheng
President's Program
Wednesday, October 23
11:00 a.m. - Noon

Eugenia Cheng is a mathematician and concert pianist. She is Scientist In Residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and won tenure at the University of Sheffield, UK. She has previously taught at the universities of Cambridge, Chicago and Nice and holds a PhD in pure mathematics from the University of Cambridge. Alongside her research in Category Theory and undergraduate teaching her aim is to rid the world of "math phobia." 

Eugenia was an early pioneer of math on YouTube and her videos have been viewed around 15 million times to date. She has also assisted with mathematics in elementary, middle, and high schools for 20 years. Her first popular math book How to Bake Pi was featured on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Beyond Infinity was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2017. She also writes the Everyday Math column for the Wall Street Journal, and recently completely her first mathematical art commission, for Hotel EMC2 in Chicago. She is the founder of the Liederstube, an intimate oasis for art song based in Chicago. Her latest book, The Art of Logic in an Illogical World was released in July of 2018.

Victoria Cook & Andrea Herran
Public Library Forum Luncheon
Wednesday, October 23
Noon - 1:30 p.m.

A popular author, speaker, consultant and coach, Victoria Cook is an expert on guilt-free success. She is director of The Center for Guilt-Free Success, an official instructor for the DIY Marketing Center, and co-author of the book Plans to Prosper: Strategies, Systems & Tools for Small Business Marketing Success. She provides fast-paced practical how-to information delivered with a dose of motivation. Victoria partnered with several Chicagoland libraries to plan and draft their strategic plans for future growth and success and train their teams.

Andrea Herran is the Founder and Principal of Focus HR Consulting. Andrea developed a passion for Human Resources and Leadership from the beginning of her career. One thing she noticed about working with people is you see the good, bad and the ugly from managers and employees. Overcoming the bad and ugly was a challenge she would take on and learning from the good and great made a lasting impression on Andrea. She brings those learning to her clients and team each day. She has experience in the following industries: hotels, restaurants, advertising, professional services, libraries, logistics, technology and manufacturing. She is also bilingual in Spanish.

Corrie Wallace
DiversiTEA
Wednesday, October 23
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Corrie Wallace is a multilingual anti-oppression educator and consultant dedicated to building collaborative partnerships that enrich the lives of marginalized people through community outreach locally and internationally. She was founding director of the Niles Township Schools' ELL Parent Center helping adults learn how to navigate U.S. schools and the township’s first Equity Director. Corrie is a PEG Affiliate who co-facilitates Beyond Diversity seminars. She trained with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond which has been providing Undoing Racism workshops since 1980. Corrie is a founding member of the Illinois Coalition of Educational Equity Leaders and she’s the Chicagoland SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Coordinator. Corrie was a member of the 3rd delegation of Seattle-Limbe’s Sister City Association which delivered sustainable feminine hygiene kits that enable girls in Cameroon, Africa to stay in school while on their periods, as well as teaching about reproductive health and African-American history. Corrie has a BA in Women’s Studies and Spanish from the University of Michigan and an MA in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. She loves to travel, read and enjoy good food. Corrie lives in Evanston with her husband and three children.

Tracy Clark
Flip the Readers' Advisory Script: Think Like a Reader
Thursday, October 24
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Tracy Clark, author of the Cass Raines PI series, lives in Chicago. She is a member of Sisters in Crime Chicagoland, PI Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America-Midwest. Her debut novel Broken Places earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, was named Best New PI of 2018 by CrimeReads, and was listed as one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2018, in the Crime Fiction category. Broken Places was also short-listed in the mystery category on the American Library Association’s 2019 Reading List and was nominated for a 2018 Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel. Book two in her Chicago series, Borrowed Time, released last May. The third entry in the series, What You Don’t See, releases May 2020. You can visit Tracy on Twitter, Facebook or go to her author website at tracyclarkbooks.com.