Upcoming NYU SPS Media Talk with Renowned Author James McBride Featured as Part of the NYU "Speakers on the Square" Program on April 17

NYU Professor Pamela Newkirk Moderates a Literary Evening with McBride, the Award-Winning Author of "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store"

New York, April 1, 2024 - - On April 17, the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts (PALA) will host the latest discussion in its Media Talk series with renowned author James McBride, as part of the NYU Alumni Association’s "Speakers on the Square" initiative. McBride, recipient of the prestigious 2023 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year award, will discuss his internationally acclaimed bestselling novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, and the art of storytelling with NYU professor Pamela Newkirk.

McBride’s landmark memoir, The Color of Water, published in 1996, is considered an American classic and is read in schools and universities across the US. His celebrated works include The New York Times-bestselling Oprah’s Book Club selection, Deacon King Kong, and The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for fiction. In 2015, McBride was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2016, he was awarded the National Humanities Award by President Barack Obama. McBride is also proud to be a distinguished writer-in-residence at NYU.

The event, which will be at the NYU Kimmel Center, Eisner & Lubin Auditorium, begins at 6:30 p.m. with an introduction by Allison Dobson, president of The Penguin Publishing Group, Penguin Random House, publishers of McBride’s novel.

The event moderator, Pamela Newkirk, is an NYU professor, journalist, author, and multi-disciplinary scholar whose work examines contemporary and historical depictions of African Americans in popular culture. Her latest book is Diversity, Inc.—The Failed Promise of a Billion-Dollar Business. Her previous book, Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga, was awarded the 2016 NAACP Image Award and was selected as a New York Times Editor’s Choice. A member of the journalism faculty at NYU, Pamela holds journalism degrees from Columbia and NYU and a PhD from Columbia University. She recently joined the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

If you are a member of the press who wishes to cover the event, please contact Michael DeMeo at michael.demeo@nyu.edu.

About the NYU SPS Media Talk Series
The NYU SPS Media Talk Series presents public conversations with media leaders and authors about trends and important publishing topics from an industry insider’s viewpoint. Previous Media Talk events have featured best-selling authors such as David Baldacci, Brit Bennett, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, Alice Hoffman, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Jeff Kinney, Erik Larson, Sarah MacLean, Lauren Oliver, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jodi Picoult, Veronica Roth, Karin Slaughter, Emma Straub, Jeffrey Toobin, Amor Towles, Adriana Trigiani, and Colson Whitehead, and Jess Zimmerman.

About NYU SPS Center of Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts
NYU SPS PALA offers a range of innovative programs in publishing and digital media, including the MS in Publishing, a 36-credit graduate program that prepares students for careers in books, digital, and magazine media; the Summer Publishing Institute (SPI), a four-week intensive for recent college graduates, rising college seniors, and young professionals who are interested in entry-level careers in media; and the Advanced Publishing Institute (API), a five-day international executive education course designed for current mid to senior level book professionals. PALA also offers two fully online degrees, the MS in Professional Writing and the MS in Translation and Interpreting; certificate and continuing education courses; and the Academy of Lifelong Learning. For more information, visit our website at NYU SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts (PALA).

About the NYU School of Professional Studies
Established in 1934, NYU SPS is an internationally recognized university that offers diverse students access and opportunity to practical, real-world preparation to thrive in their careers while building the next generation of industry leaders ready to embrace tomorrow’s innovations and challenges and lead change in global workplaces.

The NYU SPS global community is made up of industry professionals, doers, and trailblazers shaping the future of industries, positioning the school as an idea incubator center for various fields, including real estate, hospitality, global affairs, sports business, integrated marketing, HR, professional writing and more.