Shear Colbert Symposium

Welcome to the Shear Colbert Symposium website. Dr. Tom Colbert, a history professor at Marshalltown Community College from 1981-2014, created the Symposium in 1984 with memorial funds from his predecessor, George Shear, who was on the faculty from 1966-1980. Tom discovered that George was interested in railroads, Russia, and the CIA, and those became the subjects of the first 3 symposia.

Tom kept the tradition going for his entire career and even into his retirement with topics from history, science, religion, education, and current events.

Tom was a life-long scholar, fed by his curiosity for knowledge and interest in discourse, debate, and story-telling.  Those of us who knew George and Tom regard the Shear Colbert Symposium as a memorial to the professional lives of these two MCC faculty members.

Our most current lecture explored the history and impact of the year 1973.   Click the link to view the recording of Dr. Lina-Maria Murillo's lecture:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyDjL82s6As

P.J. Colbert and Nancy Adams,

Marshalltown Community College Faculty