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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Hidden Figures Author to Speak at MCC Scholars' Day Keynote Presentation


Margot Lee Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race (William Morrow/HarperCollins), will discuss the people who inspired her bestselling book at MCC on Wednesday evening, May 3. Shetterly has gained national attention through a new film adaptation of her book which has earned more than $106 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo/IMDB.com.

Shetterly’s presentation will be held at 7 p.m. May 3 in MCC’s Stabins Physical Education Complex,. The author will answer questions following the presentation and sign copies of her book. Books will be available onsite for purchase. Tickets are required and available online at <http://www.monroecctickets.com> . Admission is $15 for general public; $5 with MCC ID. Parking available in Lot G.

The event is the culmination of MCC’s 9th annual Scholars’ Day and is made possible through support from presenting sponsor, the ESL Charitable Foundation, as well as additional support from the Xerox Foundation and local philanthropists through the MCC Foundation.

Scholars' Day showcases the work of MCC student researchers and faculty and celebrates academic excellence. In 2016, nearly 70 students and faculty presented their research on a wide range of topics. MCC Foundation scholarships were awarded to outstanding student presenters based on feedback from judges and audience members. Scholars’ Day 2017 will be celebrated on Saturday, April 29 and is free and open to the public.

About Margot Lee Shetterly
In addition to being an author, Shetterly is the founder of the Human Computer Project, a digital archive of the stories of NASA’s African-American “Human Computers” whose work tipped the balance in favor of the United States in WWII, the Cold War, and the Space Race. Shetterly’s father was among the early generation of black NASA engineers and scientists, and she had direct access to NASA executives and the women featured in the book. She grew up around the historically black Hampton College, where the women in Hidden Figures studied. Along with Aran Shetterly, she co-founded the magazine Inside Mexico. She graduated from The University of Virginia, and is a 2014 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow.

Hidden Figures was a top book of 2016 for both TIME and Publisher’s Weekly, a USA Today bestseller, and a #1 (and instant) New York Times bestseller. The film adaptation of her book, directed by Theodore Melfi, recently premiered and was nominated for three Academy Awards and two Golden Globe awards. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.


Michael Ofsowitz & Jodi Oriel
Scholars' Day Committee
02/02/2017


Attachments:
icon Shetterly_2017_MCC_Scholars_Day_Keynote.pdf