By Jody Record, Media Relations
December 13, 2006

One of the ways the breadth and depth of talent at UNH is shared beyond the university community is through the Speakers Bureau, a group of 140-plus faculty and staff members who give presentations and lectures on a wide array of subjects to outside organizations.

Currenlty, the program offers 450 talks based on the teaching and research taking place here. Andrew Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center, is now offering his expertise to interested parties. Amy Seif of the Carsey Institute is set to speak on a new subject, “Building Knowledge for Families and Communities in Northern New England.”

An associate research professor in the political science department, Smith is available to lecture on such topics as “Turning Blue: Demographic Change and the Electoral Realignment in New Hampshire”, “First, Second, or Third in the Nation: The Importance of New Hampshire and the Juggling of the Primary Schedule” and “Why Americans Love to Hate Polls.”

Seif’s presentation will introduce audiences to the Carsey Institute and its programs for families and communities in New Hampshire and New England.

Recent events with long-time speakers include: Gale Carey, “Nutritious Foods From Countries Around the World,” Durham Library; Stephen Hale, “Birds of the White Mountains,” the Capital Area Audubon Society; Cheryl Smith, “Maintaining Healthy Outdoor Plants,” the New England Cemetery Association; Sarah Smith, “The 1938 Hurricane and the Salvation Effort,” the Brentwood Historical Society.

Groups and organizations that have requested speakers in the recent past include the Balsams Grand Resort, Colby-Sawyer College, Great Bay Discovery Center and the Mt. Washington Resort, in addition to many libraries and historical societies.

While providing civic groups, nonprofits, and other organizations the opportunity to experience the resources at UNH, the Speakers Bureau also helps fulfill the university’s outreach mission to bring the spirit of discovery to our state and its communities. At the same time, it affords faculty and staff the chance to take their research, interests, and experiences to audiences outside academia.

If you are interested in joining the Speakers Bureau, email a brief description of the talk(s) you would like to give to speakers.bureau@unh.edu or phone Nora Molloy, program coordinator, at 2-4401 for more information.

To check out what you colleagues are speaking about, visit www.unh.edu/presidentialevents/speakersbureau and watch Campus Journal for the monthly “Featured Speaker” column coming in January 2007.