Dr. Larry Spence, associate professor of political science at Penn State University, received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining the faculty at Penn State in 1970, he has participated in many undergraduate teaching initiatives, including the first honors cluster courses, writing across the curriculum, and the application of quality improvement principles in the classroom.

A co-director of the honors program of the Political Science Department, Dr. Spence won the Lindback Award for outstanding teaching in 1986. In 1992, he was named Alumni Teaching Fellow, Penn State University’s highest teaching award.

Dr. Spence is the author of The Politics of Social Knowledge, as well as various articles on political science and pedagogy. Since January 1995, he has been Director of the Schreyer Institute, which promotes research and development of inquiry-driven and learning-focused options to traditional lecture styles.

His keynote address, "If technology is the answer, what is the question?" will begin with a case study and he will invite members of the audience to become active participants in dialogue with him.