May 19, 2023

Nearly seventy members of the Drexel community gathered in the A. J. Drexel Picture Gallery to honor faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees for their contributions to scholarship and published creative expression during the 11th annual Celebrating Drexel Authors event, held Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The event was also live streamed online via the University’s YouTube channel for those who could not attend in person. 

In addition to 69 book authors and editors, 23 prestigious Drexel researchers who contributed to 16 peer-reviewed journal articles classified as “Highly Cited Papers” by Clarivate Analytics, were recognized for their 2022 publications. 

This year, the event, which included brief remarks from co-hosts Danuta A. Nitecki, PhD, Dean of Libraries, and Paul Jensen, PhD, Executive Vice President and Nina Henderson Provost, took a less formal approach and focused on the broader picture of what it takes to write and to publish and the importance of building a supportive author community.

“Each year for the last 11 years, we have compiled a list of Drexel authors to recognize during this annual event,” said Dean Nitecki during her opening remarks. “But as I reflected on this over the last few weeks, I see that this event—and all the hard work that goes into identifying our authors—is about more than creating a list of names. It is about building a community of writers and authors who inspire and motivate others to share their research and tell their stories… Creating and supporting an author community at Drexel—creating a group with experienced mentors—is one vital way to help encourage and support writers from diverse backgrounds on their pathway to becoming published. We want to use this [event] to do just that.”

That’s why, instead of a traditional awards ceremony, the Libraries and the Office of the Provost offered a more immersive celebration during which attendees could make new connections; learn about the writing and publishing process; and find inspiration. 

To facilitate those conversations and connections, the Libraries’ event organizers asked several authors to respond to the following prompt: 

Tell us about the process behind your writing, publishing, and research experience. In particular, we want to uncover the variety of rituals or workspaces successful authors and editors need to create and publish a book or article. For example, some like to pet their cat, or have cookies by a sundrenched desk, or celebrate every final draft with a glass of champagne!

Twelve authors accepted the challenge, and the descriptions they wrote were set up around the Picture Gallery during the event. Following remarks from the Dean and the Provost, guests were invited—while enjoying refreshments—to mingle; to share their own stories and experiences; to ask questions; and to build up their personal networks and communities. 

“This event is truly a celebration of our community and the power of publishing to bring us together for the benefit of society,” Provost Jensen said. “Congratulations to all our authors and researchers for your hard work and dedication to your professions, colleagues, and students. Your publications are a triumph and inspiration for all of us.”

For a complete list of authors and editors recognized during the 2023 Celebrating Drexel Authors event, download a copy of the program or watch a recording of the brief remarks on the Drexel University YouTube channel.

This year’s program also includes the descriptions provided by the twelve featured authors. To share your own stories and advice for navigating the writing and publishing process, email Communications Manager Stacy Stanislaw at svs22@drexel.edu. 

About the Celebrating Drexel Authors Event

The annual Authors event was launched in 2013 in partnership with the Office of the Provost to show institutional appreciation of Drexel authors and their published contributions to scholarship and creative expression to advance Drexel as a preeminent research university. Over the last 11 years, the event has recognized 912 Drexel authors and editors from every college and school and numerous administrative departments. 

Donated copies of the 2022 publications recognized this year will be on display in the case outside the Provost's Office in the Main Building this fall. Following their exhibition there, copies will be moved to the Faculty Authors Collection in the University Archives.