Nobel Laureate joins LMU
Nigerian-born playwright and peace activist Wole Soyinka has accepted a teaching position at the Westchester university. Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986. He's the first African to receive the honor.
Soyinka has published more than 20 literary works and taught at Harvard, Cambridge and Cornell universities. He was imprisoned in solitary confinement from 1967 to 1969 for writing an article that called for a cease-fire in Nigeria.
"Through his words and actions, Mr. Soyinka has transformed the world and embodies our university's mission," said President Robert Lawton. "It is an honor to have Mr. Soyinka at LMU."
As an LMU professor, Soyinka will be "interacting with students, faculty, staff and the community through a variety of events, ranging from small-group classroom visits to campus-wide discussions," according to a statment from LMU.