Symposia to Honor SMU's 2009 Honorary Degree Recipients

SMU honors its 2009 class of honorary degree recipients with the following honorary degree symposia, all scheduled for May 15:

Panelists Mark Chancey of Dedman College's Religious Studies Department and Jaime Clark-Soles, Roy Heller and Susanne Scholz of Perkins School of Theology discuss "The Bible in American Public Life," a symposium honoring Doctor of Divinity recipient honoris causa Harold W. Attridge, dean of Yale Divinity School. The symposium takes place 10 a.m.-noon in Perkins Chapel, preceded by a 9:15 a.m. reception in Bridwell Library.

Co-founder and artistic director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem and honorary Doctor of Arts recipient Arthur Mitchell will discuss his life and work with Shelley Berg, Dance, and Maria Dixon, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, in "A Conversation with Arthur Mitchell," followed by a Q & A with the audience. The event begins at 1 p.m. in O'Donnell Hall, 2130 Owen Arts Center.

SMU faculty, staff and students are invited to meet acclaimed author and honorary Doctor of Humane Letters recipient Alexander McCall Smith and to take part in "A Conversation with Alexander McCall Smith," moderated by Dedman School of Law Professor Fred Moss, from 2:30-4 p.m. in the Umphrey Lee Ballroom. The SMU Bookstore will sell McCall Smith's books on site, and the author will autograph them after the program.