Richard Simpson came to Midwestern State University in the fall of 1980 as one of three faculty members hired to initiate the new Computer Science major. He will retire this year with 39 years of service. Simpson will deliver his last lecture, "It's Not About You," as part of MSU Texas' Last Lecture series at 7 p.m. Monday, April 15, in Legacy Hall's Multipurpose Room.

"Richard's passion for the discipline is best demonstrated by his work with students," said Associate Professor of Art and Last Lecture Series host Steve Hilton. "His students love to hate him, but almost always come to appreciate his dedication and passion after graduation," Hilton said.

Simpson has served as coach for the MSU competitive computer programming team for more than 30 years and supervised numerous research projects with students, many of which resulted in publication. During his career he has produced more than 20 published papers and 20 conference presentations.

The Last Lecture Series was inaugurated at Midwestern State University in 2017, with speakers chosen by student and faculty ballots. Ten years earlier, Professor Randy Pausch delivered a lecture at Carnegie Mellon University that was truly his last - he died less than a year later of pancreatic cancer. In his talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," he discussed how to find good in others, overcome obstacles, and live generously. His lecture inspired the 2008 New York Times bestselling book, The Last Lecture.

Pausch's story inspired institutions across the country to have "last lectures," where professors speak about what matters to them as if it were truly their last lecture. At MSU, Associate Professor of Political Science Jeremy Duff presented the inaugural Last Lecture. Peter Fields, Associate Professor of English, and Frank Wyatt, Professor of Exercise Physiology, have also delivered last lectures.

Admission is free. Contact Hilton at 940-397-4270 or steve.hilton@msutexas.edu for more information.