Portsmouth, NH (18 Sep 1998)—Dr. John Silber, Chancellor of Boston University, will deliver the inaugural address for the first annual Professor John C. Rouman Classical Lecture series at 7:30pm on October 13 at Johnson Theater on the campus of the University of New Hampshire, Durham. A renowned classicist, Dr. Silber will kick-off this year's series which was established in 1997 by the Christos and Mary Papoutsy Charitable Foundation.

The Professor John C. Rouman Classical Lecture Series at the University of New Hampshire was designed to promote and enhance awareness of the Classics both in New Hampshire and beyond. Topics explored by the series cover a range of subjects within Greco-Roman civilization including mythology, literature, history, art and language. The series features lectures delivered by internationally recognized speakers and scholars, beginning with the October 13 inaugural lecture given by Dr. Silber.

Dr. John Silber is a distinguished educator and scholar of the classics. A summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Trinity University, he earned his Masters and Doctore degrees from Yale University, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Kalamazoo College. His many appointments have included the National Humanities Institute, WGBH Educational Foundation, the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America, and the Defense Policy Board of the US Department of Defense.

The Professor John C. Rouman Classical Lecture Series is named for one of the University of New Hamphire's most distinguished scholars and faculty members. The series is a testament to the extraordinary devotion Professor John C. Rouman has exhibited and continues to display toward the field. A former Fulbright Scholar in Byzantine Greek, Dr. Rouman has won the prestigious National Award for Excellence in Teaching of Classics, and the Distinguished Teaching Award from UNH. He is currently completing the translation and commentary on the History of Nicephorus Bryennius, as well as a modern Greek textbook called Greek: The Living Language.

The October 13 presentation by Dr. John Silber follows a week of special events that are part of the Professor John C. Rouman Classical Lecture Series. These include the October 3 Tribute to Professor Rouman, Bridges to Antiquity, to be held at the Jarvis Fellowship Hall of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Portsmouth, NH and an October 7 Reception at the Greek Institute of Cambridge featuring a presentation by Dr. Rouman and art restoration authority, Caroll Wales. All events are open to the public. For more information, contact the Languages, Literatures & Cultures Department, Classics Section, at the University of New Hampshire.