Reflections on Inspiration
Social Science/History | Registration opens 1/5/2026 10:00 AM MST (Arizona)
Inspiration can come in many forms—e.g., the actions or words of others, events in the world, life experiences, our surroundings. Inspiration can also come from a wide range of sources—e.g., family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, fictional characters, historical figures. We can be inspired to overcome challenges in our lives by hearing stories of
others who have overcome similar challenges. We can be inspired to try new activities simply by seeing others’ passion for what they do. Learning a new skill can inspire us to apply that skill. In this workshop, we will reflect on our sources of inspiration and how they have made a difference in our lives.
Duane Roen
Roen, Duane - has been tracing his roots since his teenage years, building a database with more than 32,000 ancestors. He and his wife, Maureen Roen, have also been recording their family history since 1978 by writing more than 19,000 daily journal entries on their children and other family members. Combining his professional and personal interests, Duane worked with colleagues to establish courses on writing and recording family history at Arizona State University. He also is founding coordinator of the Project for Writing and Recording Family History in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at ASU.