Events

Featured Speaker for September 23rd Meeting: Jorden Falker Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium Join us this Wednesday as we welcome Jorden Falker, Director of Education for the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium. Growing up on the coast of South Carolina, Jorden’s always loved seashells. As a kid she had no idea that one day she’d be running the education department of the only nationally accredited natural history museum and aquarium in the country that’s dedicated to shells (and the animals that make them). In the nearly 7 years she’s been at the museum, she’s seen a huge renovation, a spike in visitation following the pandemic, and an expansion of research and educational programming despite a category 4 hurricane threatening to ruin it all. In her presentation, Jorden will cover the history of the museum, what’s currently available for exhibits and programs, a brief overview of current and recent research projects, and [...]

Featured Speaker for September 30th Meeting: Leah Mason Literacy Council Gulf Coast With a career that began in the fast-paced communications offices of the White House as a press release writer for the Bush Administration, Leah Mason has built a professional journey defined by leadership, education, and impact. After earning a B.A. in Communications from the University of Toledo, an M.S. in Student Affairs and Conflict Resolution from Nova Southeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Education Leadership, Policy, and Change from Walden University, she dedicated 20 years to public education, advocating for students, fostering inclusive learning environments, and shaping meaningful policy initiatives. Today, Leah serves as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council Gulf Coast, where she leads innovative programs that empower learners and strengthen communities. When she’s not working, Leah, also a Rotarian, enjoys spending time with family and friends, long distance running, reading a good book, and finding inspiration in travel [...]