MONMOUTH, Ill. — The Monmouth College chaplain’s office is hosting a new speaker series this year, and distinguished visiting professor of communication Joe Angotti will be the first guest presenter on Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. in the Weeks House, 1002 E. Broadway. The event is free and open to the public.

Chaplain Kathleen Fannin explained her thinking behind the creation of the series, titled “Why Am I Here? The Unfolding of Life.”

“I feel it is important for our students to get a glimpse of the surprising ways life has of changing directions – that there is no single ‘right way’ for life to unfold,” she said. “I hope their attendance at one or more of these programs will encourage them to think outside the box of ‘going-to-college-and-getting-a-job-in-my-major-field-of-study.’ I hope they will become aware of, and therefore be more ready to seize upon, the random opportunities life sometimes offers.”

Fannin said that possible areas on which speakers may focus include choices that seem inconsequential but turn out to matter and not letting fear of failure stand in the way of following one’s heart.

Programs will be presented approximately once per month on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in the Weeks House. Mary Harris, associate dean of students at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, will speak at the Oct. 14 program.