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Distinguished Lecture Series

supported by an MCCC Foundation designated fund

All lectures -- free and open to the public -- are at 12 noon in the CM Building on the West Windsor campus.
For additional information, call (609) 570-3324 or e-mail munnr@mccc.edu.

Spring 2023


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Wednesday, February 7, 2024 - 12 noon, CM108

Painting Do-Er: A Reductive Abstract Artist in Response to Conditions of Our World

Join the Visual Arts Department for an artist talk by Douglas Witmer (b. 1971), a distinguished Philadelphia-based artist who has garnered global acclaim in reductive abstract painting over nearly three decades. His focused exploration of the materiality of painted objects yields a consciously chosen, direct, and economical process. Rooted in “painted presence,” Witmer’s recent works activate elemental compositions with sensuous color and improvised actions, operating within a formalist abstraction framework. Using thin watery layers, he establishes rectilinear structures subjected to accident-like situations, resulting in marks defying expectation. His extensive exhibition history includes solo shows at prestigious institutions globally, and his work is featured in prominent collections.

Recommended by: Professor Lucas Kelly, Department of Visual Arts & Director of The MCCC Gallery

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Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - 12 noon, CM108

Writing Women in the Past, Present, and Future: A Reading and Conversation With Award-Winning Author and MCCC Professor Jacqueline Vogtman

Fiction writer Jacqueline Vogtman could be your professor! Along with teaching at MCCC, Professor Vogtman is a published author whose 2023 short story collection, Girl Country, stirs emotions and provokes thought in unexpected ways. According to Lawrence Coates, author of Camp Olvido, “Vogtman’s characters encounter threats from environmental collapse, economic divide, and social structures that repress and contain women. Yet the stories find illumination in the darkness as the characters bend toward empathy and connection.” Jacqueline Vogtman will read from her recent fiction, discuss her work as a writer, and answer your questions about her stories and living a creative life.

Recommended by: Professor Carol Denise Bork, English Department

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Wednesday, April 3, 2024 - 12 noon, CM108

The Importance of Family and Community Partnership in Scholar Success

The African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” is not just a phrase, it’s a fact when it comes to defining the support needed for every child to succeed in school. Sheria McRae, CEO of Foundation Academies, says her utmost goal is “to sow seeds of opportunity and access so that others find their purpose.” When families and community members are involved in scholar learning, academic performance improves, learners achieve positive self-regard/ confidence, attendance and behavior improve, and school staff gain an understanding of local needs.

Recommended by: Marvin Carter, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024 - 12 noon, CM108

Power and Privilege on The Appalachian Trail

The 2200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT) runs from Georgia to Maine and represents one of the crown jewels of the United States and its panoply of local, state, and national public lands. A select few hike the entire trail in a year, more hike the entire trail over a period of years, and many enjoy portions of the trail as day visitors. Of long-distance hikers, most are men, nearly all are white, and what limited statistics we have suggest change comes slowly. This look at power and privilege on the AT promotes awareness of the need for diversity and asks questions about how this example might reveal truths closer to home. Please join Edward Carmien, Professor of English, for this discussion.