Dave Barry, humor columnist and Pulitzer Prize winning author to speak at campus
The State University of New York at New Paltz will host its first ever speaker in the new Distinguished Speaker Series with guest Dave Barry, celebrated humor columnist and best-selling, Pulitzer Prize winning author, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Athletic and Wellness Center gymnasium.
“An Evening with Dave Barry” kicks off the college’s Distinguished Speaker Series, which will host two well-known speakers a year on campus, with one speaker during the fall semester and a second during the spring semester. This series is made possible in part by a generous donation from a member of the New Paltz community.
Dubbed “the funniest man in America” by the New York Times, Dave Barry has been splitting sides for over a decade with his ingenious observations on any and all aspects of American society. After a brief stint with The Associated Press in 1975, Barry joined Burger Associates, a consulting firm that teaches effective writing skills to businesspersons. In 1983, he took a job at The Miami Herald, where he wrote a regular, weekly column until 2004.
Barry has written a stream of bestsellers, including “Babies and Other Hazards of Sex”; “Dave Barry Slept Here: A Short History of the United States”; “Stay Fit and Healthy Until You’re Dead”; “Homes and Other Black Holes”; and “Claw Your Way to the Top.”
According to Rachel Reuben, organizer of the event, the goal of the Distinguished Speaker Series is to connect community members, alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students and their families with well-known authors, policy makers and leaders, scientists, media experts, business people and other luminaries on campus.
“We are very excited to welcome Dave Barry to our campus as our inaugural speaker for this new series,” Reuben said.
College President, Steven Poskanzer said, “With the implementation of this series, the college reinforces its commitment of being a prominent intellectual and cultural hub within the Mid-Hudson Valley.”
Before he speaks, Barry will have dinner with a small group of students and major event donors. After his 8 p.m. presentation, a dessert reception with Barry will be held for premium seat attendees.
Tickets are available online beginning in late August at www.newpaltz.edu/speakerseries. Box office opens for in-person (Parker Theatre) and phone sales in early October. Box office: (845) 257-3880. Bleacher seating general admission ticket cost is $10; reserved floor seating ticket cost is $25; and reserved floor seating ticket cost for faculty, staff, students and seniors is $20. Premium seat tickets, which include the post-event dessert reception with Barry, cost $35.
The college welcomes corporate sponsorships for the Distinguished Speaker Series. To find out about sponsorship and corporate recognition opportunities, please contact Donna Goodman, corporate and foundation relations officer at goodmand@newpaltz.edu.
Arrangements for the appearance of Dave Barry made through Greater Talent Network, Inc., NY, NY.