Rick Barton and René Steinke: Environmental and Educational Justice
Distinguished authors Rick Barton and René Steinke, both Valparaiso University alumni, will inaugurate the 2015-2016 Wordfest series on Sept. 23, 2015, with presentations on environmental and educational justice.
René Steinke is the author of three novels, “The Fires” (1999, William Morrow), “Holy Skirts” (2005, William Morrow), and “Friendswood” (2014, Riverhead Books). “Holy Skirts” was a finalist for the 2005 National Book Award in fiction as well as being included in the the Best Books of 2005 lists of The Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post. It has recently been published in Spanish and Italian editions. Steinke’s other writing has appeared in such places as The New York Times, Vogue, O: the Oprah Magazine, Bookforum, and TriQuarterly. A recipient of an Academy of American Poets prize and three PSC-CUNY Research Foundation awards in creative writing, Steinke earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Virginia, and her PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Currently, she is an editor-at-large for The Literary Review and professor of English at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she teaches writing and literature.
Former University of New Orleans Provost, now UNO Writer in Residence Fredrick Barton is the author of eight books, including the volume of essays “Rowing to Sweden” and the novels “The El Cholo Feeling Passes,” “Courting Pandemonium,” “With Extreme Prejudice,” and “A House Divided,” which won the William Faulkner Prize. His most recent novel is “In the Wake of the Flagship.” Barton’s writing has earned a Louisiana Arts Prize; the New Orleans Press Club’s highest honor, the Alex Waller Memorial Award; the Stephen T. Victory Award; and the Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press for his essay “Breaches of Faith” about recovery efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Valparaiso University recognized his career achievements with an honorary doctorate in humane letters in 2009.