Michelle Obama’s presence in the White House will be the topic of the first Faculty Dinner Series event of the semester at West Virginia University.

WVU’s Center for Black Culture and Research Director Marjorie Fuller’s dinner discussion on “The Black Woman in the Obama Age” will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 6-8 p.m. in the Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room.

“With the election of Barack Obama, there has appeared on the scene an image that many of us did not ever think we would see in our lifetimes – a black woman as the first lady of the United States of America,” Fuller said. “She is a sharp, long, cool drink of water who has changed the game in Washington, and shaken to the core what has historically been the image of black womanhood in this country.”

Before becoming director of WVU’s Center for Black Culture and Research, Fuller served as a professor in the Department of Pan African Studies and Kent State University, assistant dean for intercultural life at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. and director of Diversity Affairs at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

She is a past national representative Black and Multicultural Professionals in International Education, and is a member of the National Association of Black Culture Centers.

The Faculty Dinner Series is a Student Affairs Sophomore/Junior Year Experience initiative. The program, open to WVU sophomores and juniors, brings students and faculty together in a comfortable, intimate environment, where they can enjoy complimentary meals and informal conversation with professors.

“The dinner presentation is a great way to interact with classmates and professors and eat good food, all while learning something new,” said Sheila Powell, special assistant to the vice president of student affairs.

WVU sophomores and juniors interested in attending the event should e-mail Kelli Eisentrout at Kelli.Eisentrout@mail.wvu.edu to reserve a space.
To learn more about the Sophomore/Junior Year Experience, visit http://sophomorejunioryear.experience.wvu.edu/ .

-WVU-

cd/10/09/09

CONTACT: Sheila Powell, Student Affairs
304-293-5811, Shyla.Powell@mail.wvu.edu

What other topics would you like to see covered during the Faculty Dinner Series?