Noted Authors to Speak at Schemel Forum Events this Fall

The University of Scranton's Schemel Forum will feature two noted authors during the Collaborative Programs planned for the fall semester.

On Monday, Oct. 21, the Schemel Forum will partner with the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities for a presentation on "What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World" by Sara Hendren, associate professor in Art and Design with a joint appointment in the School of Architecture, at Northeastern University.

Hendren's art and design works have been exhibited on the White House lawn and at the Seoul Museum of Art, along with many other museums. Her work is held in the permanent collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt Museum. She is the co-founder of the Accessible Icon Project, a free icon in the public domain that redesigned the International Symbol of Access.

Her book "What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World"(Riverhead/Penguin Random House) explores the places where disability shows up in design at all scales: assistive technology, furniture, architecture, urban planning, and more. It was named one of the Best Books of 2020 by NPR, a finalist for the Massachusetts Book Award, and won the 2021 Science in Society Journalism book prize.

The event, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Weinberg Memorial Library's Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room, will include a reception and is free and open to the public.

Then, on Saturday,Nov. 16, the Schemel Forum and Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library will honor celebrated author, historian, and medical humanities scholar Brandy Schillace, Ph.D. with the 2024 Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award.

Her recent novel, "The Framed Women of Ardemore House"(Hanover Square Press), has gained critical acclaim. Library Journal has named it a Recommended Read for Autism Acceptance Month, while The Washington Post notes that "The book is more than just a mystery: It's an autistic woman's journey of self-discovery." Publisher's Weekly writes that that "Schillace, who's autistic herself, draws a marvelously believable heroine in Jo, and sets her up with an expertly constructed mystery. Readers will be hungry for a sequel."

Dr. Schillace is also the author of several acclaimed non-fiction books, including "Mr. Humble and Dr. Butcher" (Simon & Schuster), both of which received glowing reviews from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. She is also the author of "Death's Summer Coat" (Pegasus Books) and "Clockwork Futures" (Pegasus Books).

The event will take place in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on the University's campus beginning at 5 p.m. and includes a cocktail reception, dinner, award presentation and Distinguished Author keynote. Toastmaster will be University of Scranton alumnus Christopher Banks '86, president and chief executive officer of the Autism Society of America.

Tickets are $100 per person. Special pricing is available for several groups: $80 for Friends of the Library, $60 for Schemel Forum members, $30 for Schemel Forum Angel Members and $40 for students. Schemel Forum Archangels may attend for free. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Library Endowment Fund, which supports special gifts for the Weinberg Library collections and services.

In addition, there will be a book signing open to the public from 4 to 5 p.m. in the DeNaples Center second floor lobby.

For additional information or registration information, contact Kym Fetsko at 570-941-7816 or [email protected]

Additional Schemel Forum events can be found on the Schemel Forum's webpage.

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