Author Firoozeh Dumas to Speak Nov. 17

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.

 

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

Firoozeh Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran, and in the 1970s 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."