Jonathan Alter, an award-winning columnist, television analyst and author, has been selected as the spring speaker in the college’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

Jonathan Alter Image submitted

The Newsweek senior editor will speak on campus on April 29, 2009, in McKenna Theatre. The focus of his talk will be “The American Presidency in War and Peace,” as it relates to the new administration’s first 100 days in office.

“Alter’s insight and intimate knowledge of the upcoming presidential election, and therefore the future administration, will be of great interest to our community in April when he speaks,” said Rachel Reuben (Public Affairs), organizer of the event.

Ticket prices will be announced in the spring.

For nearly two decades, Alter has written a widely acclaimed column that examines politics, media, and social and global issues. For more than a decade, Alter has worked as a contributing correspondent to NBC News. His 2006 book, “The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope,” was a national best-seller.

The 2008 presidential campaign marks the seventh election Alter has covered for Newsweek. In addition to regularly breaking news, he has frequently interviewed American presidents and other world leaders. His more than 50 Newsweek cover stories have included pieces on the public’s shrinking confidence in the American news media; Bill Clinton’s first interview after leaving the presidency; and Barack Obama’s first magazine cover before he arrived in the U.S. Senate. Alter also shared his personal story of living with cancer with Newsweek readers.

Alter follows this fall’s inaugural Distinguished Speaker Series event, “An Evening with Dave Barry,” which begins at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Athletic and Wellness Center gymnasium. Barry is a humor columnist and best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

The hope for the Distinguished Speaker Series is to raise funding to invite well-known speakers from a variety of disciplines to campus – one during the fall semester and one in the spring – to connect with members of the community. This year, the series is made possible in part by a donation from Peter and Helena Bienstock of the Shawangunk Valley Conservancy.

Arrangements for the appearance of Dave Barry and Jonathan Alter are made through Greater Talent Network, Inc., NY, NY.

Tickets for the Dave Barry event are available at the Mckenna Theatre Box Office or online at
www.newpaltz.edu/speakerseries.