The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host Gary Marx, internationally renowned speaker and the Founder and President of the Virginia-based Center for Public Outreach, as the next speaker in its 2011-2012 University Distinguished Lecturer Series.

Marx has spoken in all 50 states and on six continents, constantly urging education institutions, other organizations, and individuals to stay ahead of the curve as they think and plan for the future and prepare tomorrow’s leaders. He will deliver his talk Emerging and Persistent Trends That Will Profoundly Impact Education and Our Future at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, in the Campus Center. His talk is free and open to the public. All are invited to attend a reception to be held in the Alumni Room at 6 p.m. prior to his lecture. Refreshments will be served.

Marx’s best-selling books include Sixteen Trends…Their Profound Impact on Our Future and Future-Focused Leadership…Preparing Schools, Students, and Communities for Tomorrow’s Realities. During his talk, he will provide a sweeping look at emerging trends in society – from “the old beginning to outnumber the young in the developed world” to “preparing young people for jobs and careers that may not currently exist” – and discuss the massive implications these persistent trends will have for all of us and our future.

“We need to understand the political, economic, social, technological, demographic, environmental, and other forces impacting our society if we hope to prepare our students and our organizations for a fast-changing world,” Marx stated. “Staying in touch and constantly creating a future is a distinguishing mark of outstanding educators and all other leaders in society.”

Also during his visit, Marx will speak to several community groups, including local school administrators and the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club.

Marx serves as the president of the Center for Public Outreach (CPO), in Vienna, Virginia, an organization he founded in 1998. CPO provides counsel on future-oriented leadership, communication, education, community, and democracy.

As a speaker, workshop leader, and consultant, Marx has worked with education, community, business, association, and government leaders around the world. He has been called an “intellectual entrepreneur, who is constantly pursuing ideas” and a “deep generalist.”

As a futurist, Marx has directed studies such as Preparing Students for the 21st Century (1996), Preparing Schools and School Systems for the 21st Century (1999), Ten Trends: Educating Children for a Profoundly Different Future (2000), and Sixteen Trends: Their Profound Impact on Our Future (2005). He is the author of numerous books and articles. During his career, Marx has been a source for local, national, and international news media on issues affecting education and society.

Before launching the Center for Public Outreach, Marx served for nearly 20 years as a senior executive for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). He was a television and radio broadcaster before moving into education, where he served as an administrator for the Westside Community Schools in Omaha and the Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado.

Marx was presented the coveted President’s Award by the National School Public Relations Association in 1999 and the Distinguished Service Award by AASA in 2000. He is accredited by the National School Public Relations Association, the Public Relations Society of America, and the American Society of Association Executives. He is a professional member of the World Future Society and currently serves as vice president of the Horace Mann League.

Internationally, he is a member of the Steering Committee for Civitas International, which spearheads efforts to strengthen democracies in several parts of the world. He is a member of the United Nations Association of the USA and has initiated international projects with support from the Longview Foundation.

Closer to home, Marx has been a member of the PBS Education Advisory Board, NBC’s The More You Know Advisory Board, and the Emmy Awards Selection Committee. He is also one of the founders of the National Superintendent of the Year program and has served as a member of the selection committees for the National Teacher of the Year program, Disney’s Salute to the American Teacher, and USA Today’s All USA Academic Team.

The University’s Distinguished Lecturer Series was established in 1999. Each year, the UDLS Committee sponsors five to six speakers who come from Maine and beyond, representing a range of disciplines and viewpoints. While the emphasis tends to be on featuring visiting academics, it is not exclusively so. The speakers typically spend two days at the University meeting with classes and presenting a community lecture.

The public is invited to attend this free talk as well as a reception in Marx’s honor at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the University’s Community and Media Relations Office at 768-9452.