(Hartsdale, N.Y. – March 18, 2014) The Hudson Valley offices of SUNY Empire State College will present an Ambassadors for Community Engagement lecture series.

The upcoming lectures serve to highlight the college as a regional resource that will partner with local organizations to provide community programming, while sharing with participants the value of an Empire State College education.

The lectures also are designed to encourage stimulating conversation with the audience. There will be networking opportunities and, when appropriate, book signings and light refreshments.

All lectures will take place from 7-9 p.m., Thursday evenings, at the college’s Hartsdale office, 200 North Central Ave., Hartsdale.

Below is the guest list and dates for the spring semester.

Mike Bennett WHUD radio personality, author – March 20

Mike Bennett, a 42-year veteran of radio broadcasting, Associated Press honoree, current co-host of 100.7 WHUD-FM’s Mike and Kacey in the Morning, will discuss his book, “Don’t Pay the Ransom, I’ve Escaped.”

Walter Dean Myers ’84, New York Times bestselling author – April 30

‌Walter Dean Myers ’84, a critically acclaimed New York Times best-selling author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. He was presented with the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.

He also has received two Newberry Honors and five Coretta Scott King Awards. He was the inaugural recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement; won the first Michael L. Printz Award; and was the 1994 recipient of the American Library Association’s Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring an author for a "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature."

Miriam Tatzel, Ph.D., professor of psychology, author

‌Miriam Tatzel is the author and editor of, “Well-Being in the Material World.” Her research focuses on psychological aspects of money and materialism in relation to consumer lifestyles and well-being. Tatzel earned a doctorate from Columbia University, a B.S. in psychology from Queens College, City University of New York, and has been published in many academic journals.

A breakout session for Tatzel’s lecture will be led by April Dearden, author of, “8 Weeks to Your New Normal Lifestyle.”

About SUNY Empire State College

Established in 1971 as the nontraditional, open college of the SUNY system, Empire State College educates many of its students online, as well as face to face and through a blend of both at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels.

In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each undergraduate student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career.

Working with their mentors, students design an individual degree program and engage in guided independent study and course work onsite, online or through a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to choose where, when and how to learn.

The college serves more than 20,000 students worldwide at nine international sites, more than 35 locations in the state of New York and online. Its 70,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more. More information about the college is available at: www.esc.edu.

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Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications

518-587-2100, ext. 2918

David.Henahan@esc.edu

518-321-7038 (after hours and on weekends)