FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 18, 2005
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153

 

Noah Adams, longtime co-host of NPR’s ‘All Things Considered,’
featured speaker at Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Noah Adams, an Ashland, Ky., native and former longtime co-host of National Public Radio’s award-winning evening newsmagazine All Things Considered, is the featured speaker at the Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation Friday, April 1, at Marshall University.

The Honors Convocation begins at 7 p.m. at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. It is one of the highlights of the 11th annual John Deaver Drinko and Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Celebration of Academics, which takes place Thursday, March 31, and Friday, April 1. All events are free to the public.

The Honors Convocation is an awards and recognition ceremony for Marshall’s outstanding honors students, and precedes Adams’ talk.

The Celebration of Academics begins at 2 p.m. March 31 with the Drinko Symposium.at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse. A Marshall faculty member is featured each year in the Symposium.

This year’s guest speaker from the faculty is Drinko Fellow Mary E. Reynolds, an MU Communications Disorders professor. Her topic is “Language Difference versus Language Impairment: Role of Working Memory in Diagnosis and Outcome.” A public reception follows in the Performing Arts Center lobby.

Adams’ topic Friday is “Far Appalachia,” which is the title of a book he authored in 2001. The full title of the book is “Far Appalachia: Following the New River North.” The book chronicles Adams’ 350-mile journey from the New River’s North Carolina mountain beginnings to its end at Gauley Bridge, W.Va.

“We are excited to have Noah Adams here as the featured speaker at the Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation,” said Dr. Alan Gould, executive director of the Drinko Academy. “His international reputation as a journalist and his ability to tell a good story will make for a remarkable evening. Students, faculty and the community are in for a real treat.”

Adams currently is a senior correspondent for NPR News, working with NPR’s National Desk to cover stories on the working poor across America. He lives in Takoma Park, Md.

Adams, whose rich, evenly-paced voice is familiar to NPR listeners nationwide, began his career in 1962 at WIRO in Ironton, Ohio. He also worked for WSAZ in Huntington and WCYB in Bristol, Va., from 1963 through 1965. Adams began his public radio career in 1971 at WBKY-FM at the University of Kentucky.

He began at WBKY as a part-time rock and roll announcer, but soon became involved in other projects including documentaries and a weekly bluegrass show. In 1974, Adams joined the staff full time as host of a morning news and music program.

Adams went to work with NPR in 1975, editing and writing for the next three years. He became co-host of All Things Considered in 1978.

Here is the schedule of public events for the Celebration of Academics:

Thursday, March 31: 2 p.m., The Drinko Symposium in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. Professor Mary E. Reynolds speaks on “Language Difference versus Language Impairment: Role of Working Memory in Diagnosis and Outcome.” A public reception follows in the performing arts center lobby.

Friday, April 1: 7 p.m., The Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. NPR senior correspondent Noah Adams speaks on “Far Appalachia.” A public reception follows in the performing arts center lobby.

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