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Upcoming events at Monmouth College, Sept. 17-19

On tap: Constitution Day panel, Stacy Cordery book talk, Monmouth Associates with President Draves

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (09/12/2024) — MONMOUTH, Ill. - The week of Sept. 16 will be a busy one on the Monmouth College campus and in the community, including the return of a popular luncheon and a popular professor, as well as an annual event celebrating the Constitution.

First on tap is the Constitution Day talk, which will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Morgan Room in Poling Hall and is free and open to the public. Monmouth history professor Valerie Deisinger and political science professors Mike Nelson and Jessica Vivian will discuss the history and current debates about the roles of Supreme Court justices in upholding the U.S. Constitution.

The program celebrates Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, a federal day that commemorates the signing of the final draft of the Constitution in 1787 in Philadelphia. The nation's first Constitution Day was observed in 1952 to recognize the adoption of the Constitution and persons who have become U.S. citizens.

'Becoming Elizabeth Arden'

History will also be a theme of the next event. At 10 a.m. Sept. 18 at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in downtown Monmouth, Iowa State University history professor Stacy Cordery, who taught at Monmouth from 1994-2016, will speak about her latest book, Becoming Elizabeth Arden: The Woman Behind the Global Beauty Empire. Refreshments will be served, and the event is free and open to the public.

Cordery will present an overview of the life and innovations of the legendary beauty expert. Publisher's Weekly stated "beauty buffs will be rapt" by Cordery's book and Kirkus shared "it's as beguiling as a day of luxury beauty treatments."

Cordery earned her doctorate at the University of Texas, studying with Lewis Gould, who is now a Monmouth resident. At Iowa State, she serves as the director of undergraduate studies for the history department. An award-winning teacher, respected author and popular lecturer, Cordery's earlier books include biographies of Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low. Her appearances include NPR, CNN, C-SPAN, the History Channel and Smithsonian TV. For more information, about her work, visit stacycordery.com.

Meet President Draves

Those who have not already done so will have the opportunity to meet and hear from new Monmouth president Patricia Draves at the first Monmouth Associates of the 2024-25 academic year. It will be held at noon in the Whiteman-McMillan Highlander Room of the newly renovated Stockdale Center.

Since becoming Monmouth's 15th president in July, Draves has been leading the campus toward an exciting future so that the college can continue to provide a transformative educational experience that empowers students to realize their full potential, live meaningful lives, pursue successful careers, and shape their communities and the world through service and leadership.

A veteran higher education leader and former Monmouth chemistry professor, Draves will share her vision for the college. Her presentation is free, but there is a $15 charge per ticket to eat lunch at the event. Individuals attending the meal are asked to make reservations by Sept. 17 at 309-457-2323 or at alumni@monmouthcollege.edu.

Media Attachments

Monmouth College President Patricia Draves

Former Monmouth professor Stacy Cordery's latest book is her third major biography, joining works on Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Juliette Gordon Low.

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