Professor Donath to deliver John C. Livingston Lecture

Jackie Donath, a Sacramento State professor of humanities and religious studies, will deliver the annual John C. Livingston Lecture, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the University Union Ballroom.

Donath is the recipient of the 2008 John C. Livingston Award given by the Livingston Lecture Committee. By tradition, the recipient of the award presents a speech to faculty members in the fall.

Donath’s lecture will pay tribute to Livingston by examining what words of wisdom he might share with colleagues if he was alive today. Livingston died in 1981.

“John Livingston is a model of what the best type of professor should be, and it is appropriate that we have this forum in his name,” says Donath. “In choosing my topic I realized how important each of the previous lectures had been to me, and that each time, I’ve left the lecture feeling more dedicated and energized.”

The Livingston Lecture is a prestigious award for faculty at Sacramento State. The lecture, organized by the Faculty Senate, recognizes a faculty member who has played an active role in the life of the University and has shown strong commitment to students while remaining active in creative and scholarly work.

“Jackie has been very active in the creation of a quality university and in helping improve what we as faculty do here,” says Bruce Bikle, Faculty Senate chair. “That fits in perfectly with the legacy of John Livingston and we are very excited that she will be sharing her vision of where we are, where we are going and what John would think.”

Donath has been a faculty member on campus since 1991.

Livingston was a well-respected professor of government and a member of the Sacramento State faculty for 27 years (1954-1981). His colleagues established this award in his honor after his retirement. The genesis of the award dates to 1959 when the first Distinguished Faculty Convocation Address was given by Livingston. In 1986 the award was renamed in his honor.

A reception in Donath’s honor will be held following the lecture.

For more information on the lecture, contact the Faculty Senate office at 278-6593.