U to You Speaker Series with Mark Fiege, MSU | “What makes Montana Montana? Reconciling the past, present and future of our state in a time of dramatic change”

On Feb. 26, Dr. Mary-Ann Sontag, faculty member with UM’s School of Social Work, will present “When Grief Comes Calling: Helping Children, Teens and Ourselves.”

With expertise in loss, grief and end-of-life care, Sontag is currently working with staff, volunteers and a UM graduate student to evaluate the effectiveness of Camp Francis, Benefis Peace Hospice’s beloved grief camp for children. She is also writing a book about living well with loss and grief.

Sontag has three degrees, including a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, and is a licensed clinical social worker. She is the principal investigator for a federally funded workforce development grant, now in its ninth year,  that supports UM graduate students as they train to become the next generation of mental health providers in Montana.

The lecture series is a collaborative effort of the UM Alumni Association and MSU Alumni Foundation, organized by Great Falls alumni of both schools to connect with big ideas from our public universities.

Over the years, topics have included terrorism, the buzz about bees detecting land mines, climate, wild horses and the hidden strengths of dyslexia. At one session, the audience had the opportunity to sample edible insects. Speakers have included MSU paleontologist Jack Horner, UM climate specialist Steve Running, songwriter/poet Greg Keeler and author Greg Mortenson. Retiring MSU president Dr. Waded Cruzado spoke a year ago.

Series passes, $25, are available at Kaufman’s downtown and can be ordered by calling 406-899-0277.Tickets for individual lectures are sold at the door, $10 for adults, $5 for students.