Matt Gallagher, a Wake Forest University graduate, Iraq war combat veteran and former U.S. Army captain, will be returning to Appalachian State University on Thursday, October 19 & Friday, October 20. Gallagher is the author of two highly acclaimed books: the memoir, "Kaboom," and the Iraq War novel, "Youngblood." Gallagher's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Paris Review Daily and Playboy, among other publications. In 2015, Gallagher was featured in Vanity Fair as one of the voices of a new generation of American war literature. Among other media, he's appeared on CBS News Sunday Morning and NPR's The Diane Rehm Show. He lives with his wife in Brooklyn and works as a writing instructor at Words After War, a literary nonprofit devoted to bringing veterans and civilians together to study conflict literature.
Gallagher’s visit is a collaborative effort of Appalachian’s Veterans Arts & Humanities Collective and Appalachian’s "Blurred Boundaries: The Experience of War and Its Aftermath," a film, reading and discussion series sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
On Thursday, October 19, Gallagher will read his work at 7 p.m. followed by a question and answer session, in the Rough Ridge room (415) in the Plemmons Student Union.
On Friday, October 20, Gallagher will conduct a writing workshop from 2- 5 p.m. in the Watauga River Room (102) in the Plemmons Student Union.
These events are free and open to the campus and community.
To learn more about Gallagher, visit his website and to learn more about the Blurred Boundaries series, visit Appalachian News.
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About the Appalachian Veterans Arts & Humanities Collective
The Appalachian Veterans Arts & Humanities Collective is a working group of Appalachian State University employees and students dedicated to providing ongoing, sustainable hands-on arts and humanities programs and workshops to campus veterans - as well as veterans and family members of veterans in the areas surrounding Watauga County and beyond. The Collective will partner with other veterans constituencies and departments across Appalachian’s campus to foster a consortium of thought, activity and scholarship to benefit in transformative ways our student veterans, our entire campus community and the citizens of the greater community.
About Blurred Boundaries: The Experience of War and Its Aftermath
"Blurred Boundaries: The Experience of War and Its Aftermath" is a film, reading and discussion series sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The program encourages veterans and their families and friends to explore texts on the Civil and Vietnam Wars, their own experiences of war at home and abroad, and the ways that stories help us to construct our understandings of war and its myriad and often ambiguous effects. The program emphasizes the role of western North Carolina and its people.
Event Parking
Parking is free on campus after 5 p.m. For these events the Library Parking Deck on College Street (from King Street, turn onto College Street at the First Baptist Church) is recommended. To reach the Student Union, cross College Street and follow the walkway between the chiller plant and the University Bookstore, passing the Post Office and entering the Student Union on the second floor. More information and maps can be found at Appalachian Parking and Traffic.
Matt Gallagher, a Wake Forest University graduate, Iraq war combat veteran and former U.S. Army captain
Matt Gallagher, a Wake Forest University graduate, Iraq war combat veteran and former U.S. Army captain