Mississippi State University’s College of Arts and Sciences welcomes many distinguished speakers to campus through its Institute for the Humanities Distinguished Speakers’ Series.
Gary Myers, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the goal of the series is to expose everyone to the work of people who are some of the best in their fields.
“The purpose of this program is to bring in people of high reputation, so students, faculty and other people who live in Starkville can come and meet them, hear them talk and be exposed to their outstanding work,” Myers said.
So far this year, the college has already hosted Commercial Dispatch columnist Rufus Ward and award-winning poet and essayist Sherod Santos. Jack Greene, an Andrew Mellon Distinguished Professor from Johns Hopkins University, is scheduled to speak on Oct. 21, and Jeff Allred, professor of English from Hunter College in New York, will speak on Nov. 8
Catherine Pierce, assistant professor of English and co-director of the creative writing program, said she is very pleased the university was able to bring Sherod Santos to read his poems and speak to students.
“We’re thrilled that the Institute was able to help bring Sherod Santos, a poet of national reputation, to the university. Such a visit truly benefits our students and the university community,” Pierce said.
This series is geared toward external speakers from around the country and around the world, in some cases. 
“It brings an added dimension to the university experience,” Myers said.
The series started in the spring of 2005 when two scholars from England were invited to speak in the John Grisham Room.  In 2009, Nobel Laureate for Literature J.M.G. LeClezio spoke to an audience that exceeded 800 people and met with students for one week. This was the only stop that he made in the United States.
Since the beginning, the Institute for Humanities has strived to provide speakers who are some of the highest-respected people in their field and continue to work towards gaining more knowledge for the benefit of everyone.e University students.

“I think this speaker series will be a great opportunity for students to get involved in new experiences,” she said.