P.M. Forni, a Johns Hopkins professor who wrote the book on civility, will provide expert commentary on the topic during a series of appearances on the Vanderbilt campus April 3-4.
Forni, author of Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct, will address how professional life is enhanced through ethical conduct, civility and mentoring at a 4 p.m. lecture Thursday, April 3, in Flynn Auditorium of the Vanderbilt Law School. “Life is a Relational Experience: Civility, Ethics and Quality of Life,” is the topic of his talk. A book-signing will follow.
At 7:30 p.m., also on April 3, Forni will discuss “Civility and the Future of Leadership” as part of the Cal Turner Program for Moral Leadership in the Professions in the Vanderbilt Divinity School’s Media Arts Room on the first floor. Forni contends it is more important than ever that future leaders be trained in civility-based relational skills. Those attending the Cal Turner Program event should register on-line at www.vanderbilt.edu/moral_leadership.
On Friday, April 4, at 2 p.m., he will appear in the Department of French and Italian for a talk titled “Dante Between Antiquity and Modernity.” Forni will take on the topic of Dante’s “self-fashioning as the greatest poet of modern times.” The event will be held in Furman Hall, Room 217.
All of the above events are free and open to the public.
During an appearance at a Faculty Senate luncheon, open only to Faculty Senate members and administrators, Forni will tackle the issues surrounding the changing nature of the teacher-student relationship in the digital age.
Forni’s visit to Vanderbilt is funded and supported by an interdisciplinary team, including the Faculty Senate, Cal Turner Program for Moral Leadership in the Professions, Law School, French and Italian department, Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy, Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities and the Dean of Students Office.
Forni, a member of the Johns Hopkins faculty for 20 years, co-founded the Johns Hopkins Civility Project in 1997. The project, now called The Civility Initiative, aims to “assess the significance of civility, manners and politeness in contemporary society. “
Here is a link to more information about The Civility Initiative: http://web.jhu.edu/civility.
Media Contact: Jennifer Johnston (615) 322-NEWS
Jennifer.johnston@vanderbilt.edu