Gallup scientist and author of “Making Hope Happen” will give public address
Shane J. Lopez, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading experts on leveraging hope to achieve personal and organizational success, is coming to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for a daylong series of lectures and conversations Thursday, March 21.
Lopez’ visit will include two keynote addresses open to the public. The first will be held at 9 a.m. in the Theater of the UMKC Student Union, 5100 Cherry St., followed by a book signing. The other will take place at 6 p.m. in Pierson Auditorium at the UMKC Atterbury Student Success Center, 5000 Holmes St. A 30-minute reception and book signing will both precede and follow this keynote. Free event parking will be available in the UMKC Cherry Street lot.
During his visit, Lopez will also address the UMKC community, and participate in a series of internal Centered on Success workshops with the staff of UMKC’s Student Affairs and Enrollment Management division.
“The science of hope shows that how we think about the future is a key determinant of success in school, work, and life,” Lopez has written. “Hopeful thoughts and behavior are crucial for well-being and success, regardless of income level or IQ.”
Lopez is a Gallup senior scientist and research director for the Clifton Strengths Institute, and author of nine books including the just-published “Making Hope Happen: Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others”. He is Chief Architect of the Gallup Student Poll, a measure of hope, engagement, and well-being that taps into the hearts and minds of U.S. public school students to determine what drives achievement.
Lopez is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. He was a professor of psychology and education for a decade at the University of Kansas. According to his official biography, Lopez’ mission is to teach people that investing in their future pays off today. Lopez researches the links between hope, strengths development, academic success, and overall well-being and collaborates with scholars around the world on these issues. He specializes in hope and strengths enhancement for students from preschool through college graduation.
Lopez has published more than 100 articles and chapters and nine books. These include Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths, winner of the Sage Press Book of the Year Award (with C.R. Snyder and Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti).
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2013. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.