Pulitzer Prize-winning political columnist to deliver Baird lecture

Kathleen Parker, a syndicated columnist and popular commentator on news shows, will give the Baird Pulitzer Prize Lecture on Oct. 4.

<span style=”font-size: 13.9997px; line-height: 22.6495px;”>Author and columnist Kathleen Parker will give the Baird Pulitzer Prize&nbsp;</span><span style=”font-size: 13.9997px; line-height: 22.6495px;”>Lecture on Oct. 4, 2016</span>

Kathleen Parker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post who writes twice-weekly on politics and culture, will speak Oct. 4 in McCrary Theatre. She describes herself as “slightly to the right of center” politically and is the most widely syndicated columnist in the country. Her 750-word essays appear in more than 450 newspapers across the country, which translates to about 80 million print readers and countless millions online. A renowned political analyst and commentator, Parker scored highest for accuracy in a retrospective study of political pundits’ predictions. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2010.

Parker is a popular commentator on news shows and a regular guest on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” as well as MSNBC’s “Hardball” and Fox News’ “Media Buzz.” In 2010 she launched and was co-anchor of CNN’s prime time news show, “Parker Spitzer.” She is the author of the 2008 book, Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care.

A columnist since 1987, Parker has worked for five newspapers, from Florida to California, and has written for several magazines, including the Weekly Standard, TIME, Newsweek, Town & Country, Cosmopolitan and Fortune Small Business. Parker joined the Washington Post Writers Group in 2006, following 11 years with Tribune Media Services.

The Baird Pulitzer Prize Lecture Series was made possible in 2001 with an endowed gift from James H. and Jane M. Baird of Burlington, N.C., who were the first presidents of the Elon Parents Council. Their son, Macon, is a 1987 Elon graduate and their son-in-law, Michael Hill, earned his Elon degree in 1989.

Tickets for the Baird Pulitzer Prize Lecture will be available beginning Sept. 13. Admission is $13 or Elon ID.