Richard Rodino Lecture on the Aims of the Liberal Arts

The annual Richard Rodino Lecture on the Aims of the Liberal Arts will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m. in the Rehm Library.

Bertram Ashe, associate professor in the English department and director of the Africana Studies program, will give this year’s lecture, titled “Safe Spaces – and Danger Zones: Exploration and the Liberal Arts Ideal.”

A member of the Holy Cross faculty since 1996, Ashe earned a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University, a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary.

Specializing in African-American literature and 20th century African-American popular culture, Ashe has served as the director of the Africana Studies Program since 1999. During his time at Holy Cross, he has been involved in the Odyssey program, a minority bridge program for incoming freshman, and has served as the faculty advisor for The Griot, a student-edited, African-American literary journal.

Ashe is the author of numerous articles on storytelling in African-American fiction, black hair, and jazz – and a book, titled From Within the Frame: Storytelling in African-American Fiction (New York: Routledge, 2002). In addition, he has presented papers at several scholarly conferences throughout the U.S.

Ashe lives in Worcester, Mass. with his wife Valerie, his daughter Jordan, and his son Garnet. He is active in many community organizations, including the Charles Houston Cultural Project and the Efua Danqua Foundation. In 1999, he founded a reading group for black men in the Worcester community, titled Black Men Read?!

The annual Rodino Lecture Series is devoted to the memory of Richard Rodino, formerly of the English department at Holy Cross. He played a central role in launching the College’s First Year Program. It is sponsored by the Office of the Dean and the First Year Program.

There will be a Faculty Scholarship Celebration and Reception following the lecture at 5 p.m. in the Moran Lounge (4th floor Smith). This is the fourth annual event celebrating recent faculty scholarship.