Columbia University scholar, author to give humanities talk

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The powers of creative writing to build empathy will come into focus in October when a Columbia University scholar and novelist visits Western Michigan University as part of the University Center for the Humanities 2015-16 Speaker Series: Reimagining Community.

Nellie Hermann, creative director of the Program in Narrative Medicine at Columbia, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in 2452 Knauss Hall. Her presentation, titled "Creative Writing and the Capacity for Empathy," is free and open to the public.

Nellie Hermann

Hermann's first novel, "The Cure for Grief," received national acclaim and was chosen as a Target "Breakout" book. Her short story, "Can We Let the Baby Go?" won first prize in Glimmer Train's 2008 "Family Matters" competition and was published in the winter 2010 issue of the American short story literary journal.

Hermann was born in Boston and is a graduate of Brown University and the Master of Fine Arts program at Columbia University. Her latest novel, "The Season of Migration," about the early life of Vincent van Gogh, was published in January and was a New York Times editor's choice.

In her presentation, Hermann will talk about the use of creative writing and narrative to enhance the capacity for understanding and empathy in the clinical encounter.

Hermann's talk is sponsored by the University Center for the Humanities, WMU College of Health and Human Services and the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.

For more information, visit wmich.edu/humanities/events.

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