Renowned author, culture expert to speak at Memorial Union Feb. 1
Posted: 01/27/17
The Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Distinguished Lecture Series Committee will host a free lecture by Andrew Solomon, an esteemed author and lecturer on politics and culture, at Shannon Hall on Feb.1 at 7:00 p.m.
During his lecture, which is titled “How our Identities Emerge from Our Struggles: A Talk About Love”, Solomon will delve into how to forge meaning from life’s struggles.
Solomon brings with him extensive knowledge regarding psychology, politics and the arts and is a well-established expert in identity formation.
He is a professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University Medical Center and a recent recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant. Plus, his book “The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and won the National Book Award.
The New York Times and The Economist also named his book “Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity” book of the year in 2012.
“Andrew Solomon will bring unique experiences and viewpoints to campus,” said Ian Simmons, director of marketing for the WUD Distinguished Lecture Series Committee. “For example, he is a depression activist, a topic that is often not discussed but a very important one.”
In addition to his many accomplishments, Solomon is a member of the board of directors for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; the founder of the Solomon Research Fellowships in LGBT Studies at Yale University; a special advisor on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender mental health to the Yale School of Psychiatry; and a participant in the Proud2Be Project.
This WUD Distinguished Lecture Series event is open to the public. Solomon’s lecture will be followed by a 30-minute question and answer session.
The WUD Distinguished Lecture Series is a student-run committee that contributes to broadening the educational experience of University of Wisconsin-Madison students as well as the Madison community. It is dedicated to bringing smart, engaging and influential people to campus in order to spark thought-provoking conversations and ideas.
Those interested in learning more about Solomon’s lecture or the WUD Distinguished Lecture Series Committee may visit union.wisc.edu/dls.