11/28/01

LAWYER; JOURNALIST; EDUCATOR ROGER WILKINS TO SPEAK AT AU DEC. 2 & 3

AUBURN -- Noted lawyer, journalist and educator Roger Wilkins will speak at Auburn University on Monday, Dec. 3.

Wilkins, the Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History and American Culture at George Mason University, will speak at noon on "Our Founding Fathers" at Telfair Peet Theatre.

Later that day, Wilkins will participate in a panel discussion with AU faculty members Wayne Flynt, a Distinguished University Professor of Southern history, and Johnny Green, an assistant professor of political science. The panel discussion will be held in 112 Thach Hall at 4 p.m.

In addition to Monday's schedule, Wilkins will speak on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. on "Patriotism and Citizenship" at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist sanctuary. He will also be honored at a reception, beginning at 3 p.m., at the Auburn University Center for the Arts and Humanities, Pebble Hill.

His latest book, Jefferson's Pillow, was published earlier this year. Since 1990, he has served as a commentator for National Public Radio.

Past chairman of the Pulitzer Prize Board, Wilkins has had broad experience in public affairs. During the Johnson administration, Wilkins was an assistant attorney general.

In a distinguished journalism career, he has written for both The New York Times and The Washington Post. While on the editorial page staff of the latter, he shared a Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for Watergate coverage.

His highly acclaimed autobiography, A Man's Life (1982), was reprinted in 1991, and he was co-editor with Fred Harris of Quiet Riots in 1988.

Among an array of public service activities, he is past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Africa America Institute and is a member of the Board of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He is publisher of NAACP's journal Crisis and is an appointed member of the District of Columbia Board of Education.

Wilkins holds a law degree from the University of Michigan.

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nov01: AU-wilkins

CONTACT: Conrad Ross at 334/887-6836.