IU Northwest to host conference exploring personally meaningful death experiences on Nov. 8

Event Information

‘Artist of My Own Death’ is a day full of workshops, faculty and student presentations, and film discussions

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Northwest will host “Artist of My Own Death,” a daylong conference to discuss end of life issues, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8 in the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium, located in the Savannah Center.

Through workshops, faculty and student presentations, film discussions, and more, the conference will explore how individuals can create the type of death that is most meaningful to them.

The day begins with check-in, networking, and coffee at 8:45 a.m., followed by a welcome address by IU Northwest Chancellor William J. Lowe at 9 a.m.

Conference Schedule:

8:45 a.m.         Coffee
9 a.m.              Welcome - William J. Lowe, Chancellor, IU Northwest
9:10 a.m.         Financial Issues in the Aging Population - Ivana Krstevska, Director of Social Services, Avalon Springs Health Campus
9:30 a.m.         Obituary Writing Workshop - Garin Cycholl, clinical assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Center, and Non-Fiction Writing course students
10:15 a.m.       Advance Directive Writing Workshop - Natasha Brown, assistant professor of communication, and Health Communication course students
11 a.m.            Keynote Address - Terry Bard, Ph.D., professor, clinical psychologist, ethicist, researcher and rabbi, Harvard University Medical School

After a lunch break, the conference will resume at 1 p.m.

1 p.m.              Financial Issues at the End of Life - Marshelia Harris, assistant professor of social work
1:30 p.m.         Panel Discussion: Pain Medication/Pain Control - Moderated by Susan Zinner, professor of public and environmental affairs
2:15 p.m.         Breakout Sessions:

"Hope is the Thing with Feathers" - A film discussion led by Tanice Foltz, professor of sociology and director of women’s and gender studies

"Defining Hope" - A film discussion led by Crystal Shannon, associate professor of nursing

3 p.m.              Conclusion and final thoughts

Support for the conference is provided by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.

For more information, contact Susan Zinner at 219-980-6836 or szinner@iun.edu.