North Carolina Central University kicks off the first session of its Lunch and Learn Series at the James E. Shepard Memorial Library, room 140, Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at 12 noon. According to Theodosia T. Shields, the director of library services, the university is hosting Durham resident and best-selling author Michele Bowen. “Bowen will read from her humorous book, Up at the College, and will sign copies at the end of the session,” says Shields.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lunch. The library staff will provide dessert.

Shields says, “Up at the College is about love, loss, seemingly insurmountable difficulties and spiritual renewal.” Bowen is known for her books about the African-American church and its practices. Reportedly, some believe characters in the book are drawn from her experiences at NCCU, others see it as a story about Duke University. Bowen will only say she is a “satirist and a devout Christian.” She is the author of Church Folk, Second Sunday, and Holy Ghost Corner, and a member of St. Joseph’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in Durham.

For more information, please contact Dorcas Mason at (919) 530-6475.

North Carolina Central University is the first publicly supported liberal arts college for African-Americans and this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked NCCU among the top ten HBCUs in the country. As NCCU celebrates its Centennial Year, a diverse student body of more than 8,500 students is enrolled in programs such as law, business, library science, nursing, education, and biotechnology.