January 6, 2006
Nancy Giles to speak at Purdue during Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Actress and CBS News commentator Nancy Giles will kick off the Purdue University Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Jan. 16 with a lecture at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Giles is the writer and performer of several one-woman shows and has appeared on many television and radio programs. She is a writer and contributor to the Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning." "The Washington Post" wrote that she defies description due to her experiences acting, on the radio and on the comedy circuit.
Born in Queens, N.Y., she graduated from Oberlin College and spent three years with Chicago’s Second City improvisation troupe. Winner of the Theater World Award for the off-Broadway musical, "Mayor," Giles appeared for three seasons as Frankie in the TV drama, "China Beach," and played Connie the waitress in the sitcom "Delta." She has guest starred on "Spin City," "Law & Order" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Her movie credits include "New York Stories," "Big" and "Working Girl."
A self-described "six-foot, one-inch black woman who’s not model-thin," Giles has made her mark dismantling misconceptions about race, feminism and sexism. Her lectures range from popular culture and body image to creativity and racial bias.
"I want to make people laugh and I want to entertain them, but I also want to provoke thought and discussion," Giles said.
The evening also will include a presentation of the Purdue University Dreamer Award, given to an individual or organization whose contributions embody Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of service to others, as well as a performance by the Purdue Black Voices of Inspiration.
The event is held in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Jan. 16. The theme of the university's 2006 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is "Affirming the Dream XI: Courage, Resilience, and Hope."
Sponsors are the Office of the Vice President for Human Relations in collaboration with the Diversity Resource Office, Black Cultural Center, African American Studies and Research Center, Office of the Vice President for Housing and Food Services and the Boiler Volunteer Network.
Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
Source: Alysa Christmas Rollock, (765) 494-5830, acrollock@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Giles is available for media interviews before her talk. Contact Maggie Morris, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
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