The question is, “What Do Iron Maiden, Hunter S. Thompson, and Matt Damon Have in Common?” Eric Koger, chair of the Midwestern State University Department of Theatre, says that knowing yourself and determining the influences of your art is part of the answer. That will be Koger’s topic as he delivers the next installment of the Last Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Legacy Hall’s Multipurpose Room at MSU Texas.

The series was inaugurated at in 2017, with speakers chosen by student and faculty ballots. Koger says he has no idea why he was included in the pool of candidates, but he is flattered and excited by the honor. “I love lecturing and given that my lecture is essentially the philosophy of personal artistic origin, I am crazy eager,” he said.

Koger has been at MSU Texas since 2014. His stage and lighting designs have been seen in productions across the country, earning him for nominations for various awards. He has worked with Red River Lyric Opera, serving as scenic designer, lighting designer, and technical director. He currently teaches scene design and stagecraft, and serves as mentor to theatre students.

In 2007, Carnegie Mellon University Professor Randy Pausch delivered a lecture 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. Associate Professor of English Peter Fields, Professor of Exercise Physiology Frank Wyatt, and Professor of Computer Science Richard Simpson have also delivered last lectures.

Admission is free. Contact Hilton at 940-397-4270 for more information.

(Photo by Emma Brown)