WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet L. Gooch will host a conversation with Brian Beals, who spent 35 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, and Illinois Innocence Project senior staff attorney Maria de Arteaga as part of her Chancellor’s Thinkers Series event titled “A Call to Think: Human Potential.”

WHEN: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of UIS Brookens Library

DETAILS: The conversation will explore human potential, justice and transformation, focusing on how art, education, hope and advocacy can create opportunities for personal growth.

Beals was exonerated in December 2023 following years of advocacy by his family and the Illinois Innocence Project at UIS. He helped establish the Dixon Performing Arts Program while incarcerated and later founded the Mud Theatre Project.

Drawing on their experiences with the criminal justice system and work with incarcerated individuals, Beals and de Arteaga will discuss resilience, the potential for transformation and the role institutions can play in supporting meaningful change.

The Chancellor’s Thinkers Series is designed to inspire diverse perspectives and encourage intentional thinking through conversations between Chancellor Gooch and featured guests.

The event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance for this Chancellor's Thinkers Series event.