Fredonia English and Philosophy graduate ('06) Kristen Orser, currently a graduate student and faculty member in the English Department at Columbia College Chicago, is organizing “Critical Encounters” which is a series of lectures and discussions on issues of social justice. Ms. Orser is an M.F.A. candidate at Columbia College Chicago, where she is an editor for the Columbia Poetry Review.
This year’s theme, “Poverty and Privilege” is inspired by her Fredonia J-term travel to Venezuela (2005).
She has invited Dr. Ana Maria Klein (College of Education) and her husband, Tito Graffe, (documentary film-maker/photographer) as guest speakers/presenters. Ms. Orser says the dualities she witnessed in Venezuela inspired her to also orchestrate artistic encounters show-casing student art work as a result of foreign travel.
As a SUNY Fredonia senior, Ms. Orser was one of five from the campus who were tapped by the SUNY Chancellor for the Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence.
A writer, her work has most recently appeared in Redactions, Columbia Poetry Review, After Hours, and The Trident.
