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East Tennessee State University’s annual Festival of Ideas will be held Feb. 25-27 and will feature keynote speakers Anthony Doerr and LeVar Burton.

The Festival of Ideas began in 2019 as an opportunity for the exchange of ideas, information, and experiences between unique speakers, faculty experts, staff, students, community members, and alumni. It is sponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, and the Division of Student Life and Enrollment.

Free tickets to the keynote events with Anthony Doerr and LeVar Burton have all been claimed, but rush seating will be available. Anyone interested in rush seating should line up in the designated queue located at the front of the Martin Center, facing State of Franklin. Beginning at 7 p.m., any empty seats will be given to patrons waiting in the rush seating queue.

The Martin Center cannot guarantee all patrons waiting in the rush seating queue will be seated for the event. Rush seating is first-come, first-served.

More information about the Festival of Ideas is available at etsu.edu/ideas.

SCHEDULE:
Keynote speaker: Anthony Doerr
Bestselling author of All the Light We Cannot See and Cloud Cuckoo Land
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)
ETSU Martin Center for the Arts, Foundation Grand Hall
This event is sold out. Information about rush seating at etsu.edu/ideas.
Please note: Anthony Doerr will offer time for media interviews from 6:15-6:30 p.m. To RSVP for media credentials, please call or text Melissa Nipper at 859-489-1696.

Festival of Ideas Workshop
Light in the Darkness: How Stories of Empathy, Resilience, and Joy Illuminate Our Lives
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
D.P. Culp Student Center, Ballroom B
Free and open to the public; no ticket required.

Keynote speaker: LeVar Burton
Emmy-award-winning actor, host, and literacy advocate
Thursday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)
Martin Center for the Arts, Foundation Grand Hall
This event is sold out. Information about rush seating at etsu.edu/ideas.
Please note: LeVar Burton has not confirmed media availability. If you’d like to inquire about his availability closer to the event or request media credentials to attend the event, please call or text Melissa Nipper at 859-489-1696.

For media credentials, please call or text Melissa Nipper at (859) 489-1696.