The Common Reading Program and all events are made possible through the support of the Shepherd University Foundation. Special thanks to: The Shepherd University Foundation, The President’s Club, and The Shepherd University Alumni Association.
Shepherd University’s Common Reading Program is a proud recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through Arts Midwest to support the University’s the program during the 2026-27 academic year.
Please check back for updates for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 events.
September
Thursday, September 10: Breakfast on the Porch and Campus Kickoff Celebration | 9:30 a.m. | Scarborough Library, Shepherd University | Free and open to the public
Tuesday, September 15: Fall Keynote and Performance with Nathan Richardson, published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian | 7:00 p.m. | Frank Arts Center Auditorium | Free and open to the public
October
Saturday, October 17: Frederick Douglass and the Freedom of Writing: A Children’s Creative Writing Workshop and Book Event | 9:30 a.m.| Little House Lawn, Shepherd University | Free and open to the public