Upcoming Speakers
2025-26 Speaker Series
- Thursday, September 25 at 6pm: Poets Chessy Normile (author of Great Wall, Great Exodus, Great Party) and Sarah Matthes (author of Town Crier), as part of the Joynes Reading Room Poets/Duets Series.
- Tuesday, October 14 at 6pm: Choreographer Vanessa Anspaugh in conversation with the filmmaker (and her father) David Anspaugh, director of Hoosiers, Rudy, and other movies. Moderated by Professor Adam Rabinowitz.
- Thursday, November 6 at 4:30pm: Author Christopher Brown to present a talk about his book, A Natural History of Empty Lots. Co-sponsored by the Rapoport Center for Human Rights & Justice.
- Wednesday, November 19 at 6pm: Award-winning writer of fiction and nonfiction Valeria Luiselli, author of Lost Children Archive, Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in 40 Questions, and more.
All readings, unless noted otherwise, take place in the Joynes Reading Room, Carothers Hall #007 (2501 Whitis Ave). For more information about the Joynes Room Speaker Series, call 512-471-5787 or write Zack Schlosberg.
Austin-based writer and lawyer Christopher Brown will present a talk about his recent book, A Natural History of Empty Lots.
On Thursday November 6 at 4:30pm, the Joynes Reading Room will host writer Christopher Brown for a conversation about his most recent book A Natural History of Empty Lots, which scavenges these often-forgotten desolate urban wildlands for signs of life, upending our sense of "the natural" in the process. The talk is co-sponsored by the Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice, and will be followed by a Q&A and reception.
Plan II students can stop by the Joynes Reading Room for a free copy of A Natural History of Empty Lots during opening hours.