School of Literary and Performing Arts hosts Jay Jennings for Visiting Writers Series

Author and editor Jay Jennings will give a lecture at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14 in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall on the UA Little Rock campus.

A Little Rock local, Jennings has worked with renowned publications, including “The New York Times” and “The Wall Street Journal,” and he was also an editor at “Oxford American” from 2015 to 2021.

“We’re proud to have the opportunity to highlight local writers as part of our Visiting Writers Series this semester,” said Dr. Kris McAbee, director of the School of Literary and Performing Arts. “Jennings will be in conversation with two of UA Little Rock’s own creative writers, Professors Heather Hummel and Frank Thurmond.”

The English program, with support from the William G. Cooper Jr. Honors Program, has brought authors to campus for over a decade, including Josh Barkin, Moustafa Bayoumi, Jennifer Maritza McCauley, and many others.

“We aim to provide an event that inspires our students in their own creative endeavors, as they make connections and learn from professionals about navigating the industry,” McAbee said.

Jennings began his career as a reporter for “Sports Illustrated” then worked for “Tennis” magazine as a features editor. His accolades include receiving the Porter Fund Literary Prize, receiving a fiction grant from the Arkansas Arts Council, and he’s also a two-time MacDowell Colony fellow in fiction. Additional information on Jennings and his work can be found on his website.

This event is free and open to the public. Contact the School of Literary and Performing Arts’s coordinating assistant Caelon Colbert at [email protected] or 501-916-3291 for further details.