Distinguished Author Award Dinner Planned

Brandy Schillace, Ph.D., author, historian and medical humanities scholar, will be presented with the 2024 Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award by The University of Scranton’s Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library on Saturday, Nov. 16. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Library Endowment Fund, which supports special gifts for the Weinberg Memorial Library collections and services.

Dr. Schillace’s work has been widely recognized for its interdisciplinary approach, blending science, history and storytelling to explore the human experience of medicine and mortality. Her recent novel, “The Framed Women of Ardemore House” (Hanover Square Press), has gained critical acclaim. She is the author of several other acclaimed non-fiction books, including “Mr. Humble and Dr. Butcher” (Simon & Schuster), “Death’s Summer Coat” (Pegasus Books) and “Clockwork Futures” (Pegasus Books).

As a medical historian, Dr. Schillace has made significant contributions to the field, shedding light on the social, cultural and political aspects of medicine throughout history. Her work has been supported by grants from prestigious institutions such as the Arthur P. Sloan Foundation for Science Communication and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Distinguished Author Award event will take place in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on the University’s campus beginning at 5 p.m. and includes a cocktail reception, dinner, award presentation and Distinguished Author keynote. University of Scranton alumnus Christopher Banks ’86, president and chief executive officer of the Autism Society of America, will serve as Toastmaster for the event.

Tickets for the Distinguished Author event are $100 per person. Special pricing is available for Friends of the Library, Schemel Forum members and students. Schemel Forum Archangels may attend for free.

In addition to the award event, there will be a book signing open to the public from 4 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 16 in the DeNaples Center second floor lobby.

Named in honor of the late Rev. Royden B. Davis, S.J., who served in many roles at the University and as rector of the Jesuit Community, the Distinguished Author Award was established in 1997 as a way to honor notable fiction and non-fiction authors, and to give them the opportunity to share their literary pursuits and impressions with Northeastern Pennsylvanians.

For additional information or registration information, visit the Distinguished Author webpage or contact Kym Fetsko at 570-941-7816 or kym.fetsko@scranton.edu.