Mackin-Mailander Lecturer Turns ‘Pain Into Purpose’

As part of the annual Mackin-Mailander Lecture Series, Clarke University will host “Crucial Conversations: Turning Pain into Purpose and Setbacks into Success” on Wednesday, February 12 at 7 p.m. in Jansen Music Hall. The event is free and open to the public. 

Assistant Professor of Communication Chrissy Hogue Bartels will share her powerful experiences as an actor, educator, filmmaker and more. Chrissy has been featured on Chicago PD and recently won the Best Supporting Actor Award from the Iowa Motion Picture Association for her role in A Swan’s Song, written and directed by her fellow Clarke faculty member and sister Jen Hogue. Additionally, she has been heavily involved in the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, as well as local live productions such as The Vagina Monologues. 

“I’m sharing my story—one filled with unexpected twists, painful losses, and hard-won victories,” Chrissy said. “From a rough start in life and a brush with fate on 9/11 to chasing a Hollywood dream for decades and wrestling with personal demons, I’ve learned that it’s often the toughest conversations that shape who we become. I’m not just here to share my story. I want to give the audience practical tools for tackling life’s toughest conversations, whether they’re with others or the voice in your own head.” 

The Clarke University Mackin-Mailander Lecture Series was established in 1997 after Clarke received gifts from two alumnae, Mary Mackin ’34 and Verna Slattery-Mailander ’20, to establish an endowed lecture series. The annual series consists of three lectures, including a prominent outside speaker, a faculty lecture, and an alumni lecture. Clarke welcomed Iowa Poet Laureate Vince Gotera to campus in October and will conclude this year’s series with alumna Jennifer Gladon on Wednesday, March 12.