ECU Voyages Series to feature actor LeVar Burton, wildlife conservationist Jeff Corwin

ECU Voyages Series to feature actor LeVar Burton, wildlife conservationist Jeff Corwin

East Carolina University's Thomas Harriot College of Arts and SciencesVoyages of Discovery Series will feature two special guests for the 2024-25 season - a well-known actor and literacy advocate, and a biologist and wildlife conservationist - who will speak to the theme of trailblazing tales: telling the stories of our communities.

"From uncovering the stories of our cells in a biology lab to analyzing novel ideas in great works of literature, the arts and sciences play a vital role in the trailblazing tales of our communities," said Dr. Allison S. Danell, dean of Harriot College. "Storytelling expands our perspective and brings us together, offering insightful mirrors into our own lives as well as windows into the awe and wonder of both the natural and imagined world."

In its 18th season, the series opens on Nov. 14 with LeVar Burton, actor and beloved former host and executive producer of the PBS children's program "Reading Rainbow." The Emmy and Peabody award winner is known for his roles as Kunte Kinte in the 1977 ABC television miniseries "Roots" and as chief engineer Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

As a lifelong literacy advocate, Burton has dedicated decades to encouraging children to read. In 2017, the long-standing literacy nonprofit, Reading is Fundamental, acquired Burton's Skybrary reading app to provide access to millions of children at home and school. Committed to improving children's education through the latest pioneering technologies, Burton partnered with Osmo's Reading Adventure, an innovative technology that uses speech recognition and digital storytelling to teach children to read. In 2023, he premiered his first documentary, "The Right to Read," a film that positions the literacy crisis in America as a civil rights issue.

Most recently, he launched LeVar Burton Entertainment with a mission to create content that fosters empathy, champions diversity and builds community. Under this banner, Burton develops projects in film, television, podcasting and publishing. Now in its 13th season, his popular podcast, "LeVar Burton Reads," has produced more than 200 episodes and boasts 25 million downloads.

On Jan. 30, ECU will welcome Jeff Corwin, Emmy award-winning biologist and wildlife conservationist known for hosting Disney Channel's "Going Wild with Jeff Corwin." In his presentation "Tales from the Field with Jeff Corwin," he will discuss the unique challenges various species face in our world and inspire the audience to become more aware of threats to wildlife and the environment.

Corwin is the creator, executive producer and presenter of the ABC television series "Wildlife Nation," which explores the story of North American conservation, highlighting heroes working to save endangered species and wilderness. The mission is to empower a diverse community with stories of environmental stewardship, conservation and the plight of imperiled wildlife.

He also has authored 10 books on wildlife and nature, including "Living on the Edge: Amazing Relationships in the Natural World."

Special-access receptions with guest speakers are scheduled before each public Voyages presentation. Receptions and presentations are held in the Main Campus Student Center, Room 249 and the ballrooms, respectively. Tickets to the receptions and discussions will be available beginning Sept. 3, through the ECU Central Ticket Office.

Each 7 p.m. Voyages presentation is free for ECU faculty, staff and students. Tickets are required. Visit the Voyages website for additional information and options for free access with an ECU 1 Card. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

All event dates, times and locations are subject to change. Individuals requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should call 252-737-1018 or email [email protected] at least one week before the event.

The series is made possible through contributions from Harriot College's Dean's Advancement Council, university and community organizations, and many additional friends and supporters. For more information or to contribute, visit Support the Series.

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