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School of Humanities

Durst Distinguished Lectures

Renowned writers read their work, share their expertise, and offer insight into their creative process—right here on campus.

Durst Distinguished Lecture Series

Spring 2023 Durst Lecturers Susan Choi, Lydia Conklin, Namwali Serpell, Anthony Marra

Spring 2023 Readings & Conversations

February 13 - Namwali Serpell

February 27 - Susan Choi

March 30 - Lydia Conklin

April 3 - Susan Choi

April 25 - Anthony Marra

Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chairs in Literature

  • headshot of Susan Choi  

    Susan Choi

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2023

  • headshot of Louise Glück  

    Louise Glück

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2022

  • face of woman with glasses, red lipstick and two long braids in front of art supplies  

    Lynda Barry

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2021-2022

  • Michael Chabon CREDIT Benjamin Tice Smith  

    Michael Chabon

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2017-18

  • Edwidge Danticat  

    Edwidge Danticat

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2019-20

  • Claudia Rankine  

    Claudia Rankine

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2016-17

  • Kevin Young  

    Kevin Young

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2018-19

  • Manohla Dargis '85  

    Manohla Dargis ’85

    Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, 2015-16

Unparalleled Opportunity

As a small public college, Purchase is proud to introduce students to the level of expertise provided by the Durst Distinguished Lectures—outstanding opportunities for students and local community members alike to interact with accomplished authors.

The roster of current and past Durst Lecturers have won an impressive array of literary honors and fellowships, including:

  • National Book Awards
  • National Book Critic’s Circle John Leonard Prize
  • National Book Critic’s Circle Award in Poetry
  • Lannan Foundation Fellowships
  • MacArthur Foundation Grants
  • Pulitzer Prizes
  • Guggenheim Foundation Fellowships
  • Man Booker Prizes for Fiction
  • Rona Jaffe Writers Award
  • NAACP Image Award
  • LA Times Book Award for Poetry
  • NEA Fellowship in Prose
  • Asian American Writers Workshop Literature Award
  • Academy Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets
  • Martin Luther King Memorial Prize
  • Young Lions Fiction Awards
  • Poetry Society of America’s Norma Farber Award

Special Thanks

The Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature Endowment supports the Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Chair in Literature, awarded to a distinguished professor whose work bridges literature and the visual or performing arts, and the Durst Distinguished Lecture Series, for visiting professors and other lecturers.

This generous support has benefited the college and especially enriched the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Humanities, and the Literature and Creative Writing programs at Purchase College.