They are at the top of their respective fields and on Friday, MSU alumni Jack Epps Jr., Juli Betwee and John Scott will share their experiences with College of Arts and Letters students.
The College of Arts and Letters will host its second annual Alumni Leaders Program from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. in Parlor C of the Union. Epps, a screenwriter, graduated in 1972 with a bachelors degree in English. He and late MSU professor Jim Cash co-wrote several scripts together, including Top Gun, Dick Tracy, and Anaconda.
I always love an opportunity to come back to Michigan State, Epps said. Its a great part of my life and I like to stay connected to the college.
Epps said he has learned that education is a lifelong process, and he hopes to pass that message along to students.
Nobody knows anything, he said. The educational process doesnt end when you get out of school - in fact, it becomes more intense.
Epps will also be addressing students at the College of Arts and Letters Lecture in Writing or Film on Wednesday. The lecture is in memory of Cash, who died last March 24 at age 59.
Betwee earned her bachelors degree in 1969 from the Justin Morrill College, which was housed at MSU from 1965 until 1979. She went on to found Betwee & Co., a management consulting firm in San Francisco.
Betwee said she is anxious to share her experiences.
Im mostly looking forward to interacting with the students, she said. I think its great that theyre bringing alumni back to the university.
Scott now works as a professor of art at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. He graduated in 1965 with a masters degree in art. He also holds an honorary doctorate from MSU, awarded in 1995.
Scotts reflections on education mirror Epps thoughts.
Ive learned just about how much I dont know, he said. Thats the greatest reward of being involved in academia; its never closed.