01/13/23

By FHSU University Communications

HAYS, Kan. – This year’s Olliff Family Educational Symposium at Fort Hays State University has been set for Thursday, Feb. 2, in a virtual format. The symposium, sponsored by FHSU’s College of Education, will run from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

The theme of this symposium for area K-12 educators is “The Educator’s Mind Matters Too.”

The featured speaker, Dr. Lori Desautels, will speak on Adult/ Educator Brain and Body States Through the Lens of Applied Educational Neuroscience. In the session, she will explore how trauma and adversity impact students’ developing brains and bodies.

The symposium is free and open to the public. However, registration is required. For information on how to register and a link to the registration page, visit https://www.fhsu.edu/olliff-family-educational-symposium/.

The symposium began in 2017 and was later named after the Olliff Family in honor of the late Darel Olliff and his wife, Shirley.

As a third-generation funeral director in Phillipsburg, Darel developed a passion for mental health. His son, Dr. Kenton Olliff – a long-time employee of FHSU – had worked with his dad for several years before going into teaching.

To ensure the symposium would be offered every year, Kenton committed in 2019 to financially support this important event along with his mother; his wife, Carol Solko-Olliff; and the Olliff family. Kenton, a licensed clinical professional and addiction counselor, is an associate professor of Advanced Education Programs at FHSU, where Carol is the director of International Student Services.