Keynote Speakers

Glen Poshard – President of Southern Illinois University

Glenn Poshard was unanimously appointed to serve as President of Southern Illinois University by the university's Board of Trustees, effective January 1, 2006. He brings over forty years of expertise in public service and higher education administration to the presidency of Southern Illinois University. A former high school teacher, Poshard served as director of the Southern Illinois Educational Service Center in Benton from 1975 to 1982. In 1984, he began a governmental career, holding seats in the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Congress until 1999. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1998, losing that race by a narrow margin. In 1999, the White County native founded the Poshard Foundation, which works throughout southern Illinois to benefit children. The Foundation has engaged various individuals and agencies to prevent child abuse in 25 downstate communities and has raised over $1.5 million dollars in support of these children. Poshard's wife, Jo, continues the work of the Foundation and currently serves as the Foundation's president and chief operating officer.

Angie Wyatt – Anchor, WSIL Channel 3 News

An Opp, Alabama native, News Anchor Angie Wyatt worked in many parts of the country before coming to WSIL in December of 1997. She began her television career at WJHG-TV in Panama City, Florida. In 1995, Angie made the move north taking a position first with WABU-TV in Boston, Massachusetts then moving on to WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York. Wyatt has also worked as a freelance reporter for Court-TV, C-SPAN, CNN and ABC/Reuters-owned States News Service.

Angie left the daily news grind, briefly in 1997, to take a job as a freelance reporter and producer with Expedition Outreach, a Boston-based organization. Her work consisted of reporting and producing educational documentaries from South America and Alaska. She filed reports from deep in the Amazon jungle and from 18-thousand feet on top of a mountain.

Angie went right to work immediately following her graduation from Troy State University in 1991. In 1996, she enrolled and studied government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

When not on the job at WSIL, Angie enjoys spending time with her son Wyatt (her maiden name) and husband Jon.