COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jerzy Nowak's world changed on April 16, 2007, when his wife, Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, was killed in a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.
Nowak, who was chair of the university's Department of Horticulture at the time, soon became founding director of the university's Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention, and has spoken across the United States and Canada about violence, peace and justice.
At the invitation of friend and colleague Doug Doohan, Ohio State University professor of horticulture and crop science, Nowak will visit the Wooster and Columbus campuses on Nov. 15-16, presenting:
- "Aftermath of the Virginia Tech Tragedy: Student Responses and Development of Student-Centered Academic Opportunities," offered on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1-2 p.m., in Room 121 Fisher Auditorium at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, and on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1-3 p.m. in the Mershon Center Atrium, 1501 Neil Ave., Columbus.
- "Tragedy at Virginia Tech April 16, 2007: Memories and Reflections," on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7-8 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 353 E. Pine St., College of Wooster campus.
"I've known Jerzy Nowak for years, and I think his message is an important one for anyone to hear, but especially those who are involved on college campuses," Doohan said.
The Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, the Mershon Center, the Kirwan Institute -- all part of Ohio State -- and Westminster Presbyterian Church are sponsors of the events.
For more information about the Columbus event, see http://go.osu.edu/nowak. For information about the Wednesday evening event, see http://bit.ly/nowak_wooster.
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