MSU-Meridian Celebrates 2020 International Men's Day

International Men's Day (IMD) addresses the challenges that face men and boys. IMD of Mississippi is a project of Mississippi State University.  The 2020 conference will be held at the Kahlmus Auditorium on Thursday, November the 19th at 6 p.m.

The general theme of the event will be masculinity in the post Covid-19 world. The event will have somewhat limited seating to allow for social distancing, will require masks to be worn, and will be presented live over the internet for those wishing to avoid an on-campus meeting and for out of town participants. The conference will be free to all, either in-person or distance attendees.

Online streaming connection invitations are available on request. Email mef348@msstate.edu for a free invitation to attend the conference virtually.

Guest speakers for the 2020 Conference will be:

Dr. Toby Bates
Mississippi native Toby Bates is an Associate Professor of History at Mississippi State University. He researches, writes, and teaches on the culture of the United States in the 20th century and the Cold War era. Dr. Bates is a Boy Scout who earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of Mississippi.

CH (MAJ) John Branning
Branning serves as an Army Chaplain for the Mississippi Army National Guard and is the Brigade Chaplain for the 185th Aviation BDE. He has served in operation OIF/OND from 2010-2011, MEDCOM mission to Gabon, Africa 2012, Operation Snow Leopard, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 2013, and Operation Spartan Shield Kuwait 2015. He is an Ordained Elder in the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has served local congregations in the state for 26 years and is currently the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Meridian.  He and his wife Traci have three sons, BJ, Aidan and Jasper.