Staring at empty documents, pushing homework aside, and dreading deadlines are commonplace, but the Lucille Cobb Memorial Lecture promises to inspire and enlighten Doane students and staff.
Sony Ton-Aime spoke to Doane last year about the common ground in stories. He will come back to campus on Feb. 13.
“I told my students in class that if they were feeling a little tired, a little burned out, a little disillusioned, Sony’s unique and eloquent perspective would remind them why they made the right decision to attend Doane University,” Professor of English Phil Weitl said. “Sony will help them to see why their liberal arts experiences give them a unique advantage in the world today.”
Ton-Aime was born and raised in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, near the Dominican Republic. He cites one of his main influences as the storytelling in his community.
“In Haiti, we call our poets and storytellers samba,” Ton-Aime told NEXTpittsburgh. “They were the wise people in our community, and as a child, I could not get enough of it. To tell stories myself and facilitate others to tell and share their own stories is what I’ve dedicated my life to.”
Along with his expertise in poetry and translation, Ton-Aime has a background in accounting and business. It is this background that Professor Weitl hopes will inspire students.
Weitl acknowledges that Doane encourages students to connect and apply their curricular and co-curricular experiences.
“Sony embodies these values and tells a compelling story, not only about the value of the Liberal Arts but also about the necessity of the Humanities for personal wellbeing and professional success,” Weitl said.
Ton-Aime will join the ranks of Rita Charon, Tom Robbins, Frank Deford, and more as a part of the Lucille Cobb Memorial Lecture Series. Intended to broaden public awareness of the art of writing by presenting talented and successful authors, the Lucille Cobb Memorial Lecture was founded to honor Dr. Cobb, a professor of English at Doane, from 1959 to 1969.
This year’s Lucille Cobb Memorial Lecture will be hosted in Perry’s East/West dining room on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. Along with Ton-Aimes’s speech, the event will offer desserts, refreshments and a chance to meet the speaker.
“College is the ONLY time in your life when you get to explore ideas and opportunities beyond the day-to-day concerns of life,” Weitl said. “One of the best things our students can do for themselves is to put themselves in the way of people like Sony Ton-Aime.”
The lecture will kickstart the English Department’s year-long exploration of the human skills gap. In addition, Ton-Aime will remind listeners of the importance of English and writing in this modern era.
“It could very well be life-changing,” Weitl said.
