Penn State Worthington Scranton has supported the educational and cultural Scranton Reads program for several years, hosting speakers, panel discussions, and through the volunteer efforts of Dr. Kelley Wagers, assistant professor of English at the campus.
This year, the campus will host a lecture on herbal medicine by local nurse and holistic nurse practioner Mary Elaine Southard on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 12:15 p.m. in the SLC's Sherbine Lounge. The discussion will encompass the subject of herbal medicine in the context of its presence in this year's Scranton Reads book selection, Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya.
Then, on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., Dr. Beatriz Rivera-Barnes, associate professor of Spanish and author of many scholarly essays on Minor/Minority literature and ecocriticism, as well as several fictional novels and short stories, will participate in a panel discussion of Latin American Literature hosted by Marywood University.
She will be one of several local scholars, writers and religious leaders taking part in the discussion, which will be in Marywood's Comerford Theater, in the Natural Health and Sciences Center.
Dr. Rivera-Barnes has been a faculty member at Penn State Worthington Scranton for over nine years and was the recipient of the 2007 International Latino Book Award for her novel, Do Not Pass Go, for which she was also a finalist for the 2007 Paterson Fiction prize.
Scranton Reads is an annual regional effort that organizes activities around a single work of literature in order to promote reading among people of all ages. If you would like more information on these events or the Scranton Reads program, you can contact Dr. Wagers ([email protected]) or visit www.scrantonreads.org.
