Celebration of Ideas Lecture Series Brings Prominent Speakers to Campus

Fairmont State University's and Pierpont Community & Technical College's Celebration of Ideas Lecture Series brings nationally prominent speakers of diverse viewpoints to campus each fall and spring.

"It is our goal to create a campus environment where open exchange of ideas is both promoted and celebrated," said Persis Bates, Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs.

"We believe that the development of our student body must include exposure to a variety of ideas. Through this exposure, our students will be better prepared to operate in an increasingly complex society. We are very fortunate to be able to bring this diverse and talented group of speakers into the Fairmont community."

This year's speakers include Edith Roberts, Chuck Todd, Bay Buchanan, Roland S. Martin, Robert Tinnell, Firoozeh Dumas and Susan L. Taylor.

Admission is free and open to the public for all of the events in the lecture series. Tickets are not required. For more information, call the Student Affairs Office at (304) 367-4215.

Edith Roberts
Sept. 8
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

Edith Roberts was born in West Virginia and attended elementary schools in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. She graduated from West Virginia State University (formerly West Virginia State College) with a B.A. in Music (Vocal and Choral Conducting) and French.

Roberts is the wife of Tuskegee Airman, Col. George "Spanky" Roberts. She has been an educator, music instructor, and social worker. Many years were spent living on numerous Air Force bases in the United States and Japan as her husband served as a Black Senior Officer. Roberts has many accolades; including awards for preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and for being the first African American social worker for the Sacramento School District.

Chuck Todd
Sept. 22
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

Chuck Todd became NBC News' political director in March 2007. He also serves as NBC News' on-air political analyst for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams,"  "Today,"  "Meet the Press" and MSNBC, including "Hardball with Chris Matthews."

In addition to his on-air analysis, Todd is responsible for all aspects of NBC News' political coverage, including maintaining contact with the campaigns and serving as the point person for political news and information. He is also the editor of "First Read," NBC's must-read guide to political news and trends in and around Washington, D.C., and writes weekly columns of analysis for MSNBC.com. He is based in NBC News bureau in Washington, D.C.

Before joining NBC News, Todd was the editor-in-chief of National Journal's  "The Hotline,"  Washington's premier daily briefing on American Politics.

Todd has frequently appeared on television to offer analysis of campaigns and political events of the day, including MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and weekly appearances on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal."

Bay Buchanan
Oct. 6
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

Political commentator for CNN, adjunct professor of political communication at George Mason University, and veteran of six presidential campaigns, Bay Buchanan can be seen every week on CNN's "Inside Politics" debating Donna Brazile.

Previously, Bay was the co-host of CNBC's political talk show, "Equal Time." In addition, she has worked as a political analyst for "Good Morning America," MSNBC, and has been the host of the national talk radio program, "Live with Bay Buchanan."

Buchanan began her political career as the national treasurer of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns in 1980 and 1984. This position catapulted her into a distinguished career beginning in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan appointed her to be Treasurer of the United States. Ronald Reagan called on her again in 1983 - this time to chair his Commission on Women Business Owners.

Buchanan served as the campaign chairman for both of her brother's, Pat Buchanan, presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996. During the 1996 presidential primary season, she emerged as a national figure steadfastly championing the right to life of the unborn child. As a result of her impact in the political arena, George magazine recognized her as "one of the top 20 political women in the nation."

Roland S. Martin
Oct. 6
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

A nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate, Martin is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith" and "Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America."

Martin is a commentator for TV One Cable Network and host of "The Roland S. Martin Show" on WVON-AM/1690 in Chicago. He can be heard daily from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. He is also a CNN contributor, appearing on a variety of shows, including "Paula Zahn Now," "Anderson Cooper 360,"  "Lou Dobbs Tonight," and many others. Martin has recently acted as the fill-in host for Paula Zahn and hosted a CNN special called "What Would Jesus Really Do?" He is also a contributor for Essence magazine and posts a daily blog on Essence.com.

An insightful and provocative analyst, Martin has appeared numerous times on, MSNBC, FOX News, Court TV, BET "Nightly News," BBC News, National Public Radio, The Word Network and America's Black Forum, American Urban Radio Networks, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and NPR's'  "News and Notes."

He has won more than 20 professional awards for journalistic excellence, including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television News Directors; several first place awards from the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators; two citations from the National Associated Press-Managing Editors Conference; the top sports reporting award in 1997 from the National Association of Black Journalists; and honors from the Houston Press Club.

Robert Tinnell
Oct. 16
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

Robert Tinnell is a screenwriter, director and author whose works include the films "Frankenstein and Me" and "Believe" and the graphic novels "The Black Forest," "The Living and The Dead" and "Sight Unseen." His book, "Feast of the Seven Fishes," was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album - Reprint and is scheduled to go into production in 2008 with Tinnell as director. Currently, Tinnell is working on the graphic novel "Crash," as well as various other screenwriting, comic, and directing projects. While attending Fairmont State, he was active in Student Government, including serving as treasurer, student representative to the Board of Advisors, and was active in Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Tinnell lives in WV with his wife and two children.

Firoozeh Dumas
Nov. 17
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

Firoozeh Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran, and, in the 1970's, moved to Whittier, Calif., with her family at the age of 7. After a two-year stay, they moved back to Iran and lived in Ahvaz and Tehran. Two years later, they returned to Whittier, then moved to Newport Beach. Firoozeh then attended UC Berkeley where she met and married a Frenchman.

Dumas grew up listening to her father, a former Fulbright Scholar, recount the many colorful stories of his life in both Iran and America. In 2001, with no prior writing experience, Dumas decided to write her stories as a gift for her two children. Funny in Farsi was on the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and was a finalist for the PEN/USA award in 2004 and a finalist in 2005 for an Audie Award for best audio book. (She lost to Bob Dylan.) She was also a finalist for the prestigious Thurber Prize for American Humor (she lost to Jon Stewart), and is the first Middle Eastern woman ever to be considered for this honor.

For the past five years, Dumas has traveled the country reminding us that our commonalities far outweigh our differences...and doing so with humor. She has spoken in conferences, schools, churches, Jewish Temples, and Islamic centers. Her travels have taken her from the East Coast to the West Coast, from Harvard University to UCLA. Everywhere she has gone, audiences have embraced her message of shared humanity and invited her back for more.

Dumas' next book, entitled "Laughing without an Accent," was published earlier this year.

Susan L. Taylor
Feb. 9, 2009
7 p.m.
Turley Center Ballroom

Susan L. Tayor, editorial director of Essence magazine, is the driving force behind one of the most celebrated Black-owned business success stories. Since joining Essence over 30 years ago, she has become an inspiration to millions of people who see her as a living symbol of the magazine. 

As the editorial director of the publication arm and chief content officer of all the divisions of the multimedia company, Taylor is also noted for her motivational "In the Spirit" column each month. In her leadership role, Taylor has guided Essence through a period of phenomenal growth, with a readership of over 8 million. A fourth generation entrepreneur, she is the author of "In the Spirit: the Inspirational Writings of Susan L. Taylor," "Lessons in Living and Confirmation: The Spiritual Wisdom That Has Shaped Our Lives." 

Taylor gives every audience a prescription to adopt the best practices both personally and professionally. Genuine, energetic and spiritual, Taylor's passion is to help people realize their strengths and take charge of their lives.