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ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ READS lecture to welcome Author David LaMotte

Published: 10/14/2025

This is photo promoting ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ READS 2025 ft. David LaMotte.

The second annual Dr. David and MaryAnne Kozak ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ READS program featuring author David LaMotte will culminate Thursday with a lecture given by LaMotte at the Warner Theater.

“This is really all about them and their experience,” LaMotte said. “I’m just happy to participate and be part of this all.”  

LaMotte is the author of the 233-page book, “You Are Changing the World Whether You Like it Or Not,” featured in ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s 2025 Dr. David and MayAnne Kozak ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ READS (Reading to Enhance the Awareness of a Diverse Society) program.  

This program enhances the first-year student experience at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ by providing a common book to read and discuss. Each incoming freshman student received a copy of the book at Student Convocation in August. 

They discussed the book in a group setting during their ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ 101 course this fall. ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ 101 is a first-year seminar course that includes experiential and collaborative learning that students through their transition to Gannon University in their first semester. 

“The message is that we’re welcoming them into the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ family and hopefully showing them their power as an individual, but also the power of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ community,” said Sarah Ewing, Ph.D, Gannon University provost and vice president for Student Experience.  

LaMotte said his book relates very well to the moment many incoming first-year students find themselves immersed in.  

“This particular moment is instrumental for many of these students. They get to choose who they are going to be in this community,” LaMotte said. “There are very few moments in our lives where we trade out our entire social and work environment and this is one of them where they get to ask themselves ‘Who have I been so far and who do I want to be? Furthermore, what are the steps between here and there?’” 

All ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, were welcomed and encouraged to take part in the reading and are welcome to attend and participate in the lecture on Thursday. 

LaMotte said he will structure this lecture as a short discussion followed by a question-and-answer session for students.  

To learn more about this program, visit www.gannon.edu/about-gannon/initiatives/gannon-reads/