Dr. Howard Keim, senior lecturer in business at Bluffton University, along with his daughter, Talashia Keim Yoder, will present the Colloquium “A Leader Prepares” at 4 p.m. on April 21 in Centennial Hall’s Stutzman Lecture Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Both presenters have experience as leaders, performers and pastors and have discovered how concepts from these three arenas inform each other. They will share some serendipitous stories of how they have discovered this common ground. 

Howard Keim grew up in an agricultural community in Michigan. He earned an associate degree from Hesston College, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Michigan University and a doctorate from the University of Kansas. His undergraduate work was primarily in theatre, with secondary areas in psychology and English. His graduate work has been primarily in rhetoric and organizational communication. He has served as a youth minister, pastor, college teacher, academic dean and college president (Hesston College). He is currently serving as senior lecturer in business at Bluffton University and completing a certificate in leadership coaching with the International Coach Federation.

Talashia Keim Yoder grew up on the Great Plains in Hesston, Kan., She earned the associate degree from Hesston College and a bachelor’s degree from Tabor College in Bible and performing arts and has taken graduate work at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Yoder directed her first show while in sixth grade and has many credits since that time, including recently directing her 25th performance at Bethany Christian High School. She is currently serving as pastor of Family Ministry at College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Ind., and director of theatre at Bethany Christian High School in Goshen.