Acclaimed author of the graphic novel “Backflash” will be joined in conversation with author Steven Leyva.
Howard Community College’s sixth annual Bauder Lecture Series featuring Mat Johnson
COLUMBIA, MD, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Howard Community College (HCC) President Daria J. Willis today announced creative writing professor and acclaimed author of the graphic novel Backflash, Mat Johnson, as the keynote orator for HCC’s sixth annual Bauder Lecture Series on Thursday, September 24. The lecture will be held at the Monteabaro Recital Hall in the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at 12:30 p.m. and available via livestream. A 6 p.m. lecture will be held in person only at the Monteabaro Recital Hall.
The college presents the annual Bauder Lecture Series in partnership with the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo), the Howard County Library System, and other community partners promoting the literary arts throughout Howard County.
“The Bauder Lecture Series represents Howard County’s support of and shared belief in the importance of the arts and humanities,” said Willis. “We look forward to welcoming readers, writers, students, educators, and anyone who appreciates a great story to what promises to be an engaging and memorable lecture.”
Following his keynote address, Johnson will be joined by Steven Leyva, poet and author of The Opposite of Cruelty, for an in-depth conversation about storytelling, the power of nostalgia, and other themes explored in Johnson’s work. A post-lecture book sale and signing will follow in the Horowitz Center lobby.
“Backflash offers readers a compelling opportunity to consider memory, family, identity, and the stories that shape who we are,” said Dr. Tara Hart, department head of humanities and world languages at HCC and a member of the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo) board of directors. “Bringing an author of Johnson’s caliber to campus creates an exciting opportunity for our students and the broader community to engage with literature in a meaningful and personal way.”
Johnson is an award-winning novelist, graphic novelist, essayist, and educator whose acclaimed body of work includes Loving Day, Pym, Incognegro, and Hunting in Harlem. His writing frequently examines American history through a distinctive combination of humor, imagination and social commentary. Backflash, his graphic novel created with illustrator Steve Lieber, explores the possibility of revisiting the past.
The annual Bauder Lecture Series, made possible through the generosity of Dr. Lillian Bauder, a community leader and Columbia, Md. resident, brings nationally recognized authors to Howard County for literary exploration and community conversation.
“Literature has the remarkable ability to bring people together, open our minds to different perspectives, and encourage us to ask important questions about ourselves and our world,” said Bauder. “I am honored to support the Bauder Lecture Series and to help create opportunities for students and community members to experience the power of great writing and thoughtful conversation.”
The annual endowed lecture and the chosen book are also celebrated with two Don Bauder student awards. Any HCC student who has read the featured book is eligible to respond and reflect on the book in an essay or other creative format. The awards honor the memory of Don Bauder, the late husband of Dr. Bauder and a champion of civil rights and social justice causes.
For more information about HCC’s free, sixth annual Bauder Lecture, and to join virtually, please visit: HowardCC.edu/BauderLecture
| About HCC Since 1970, Howard Community College (HCC) has been a preferred college choice for students and families in Howard County, Maryland. HCC offers associate degree and certificate programs, as well as workforce development training and continuing education classes, to nearly 22,000 credit and noncredit students each year. The college has been recognized as one of the nation’s top community colleges in two leading 2025–2026 rankings, named the #1 Community College in Maryland and the #1 Community College in the Baltimore Area by Niche, and ranked #32 nationally by WalletHub in its annual Best & Worst Community Colleges study.
About the Bauder Lecture Series |
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- Howard Community College's sixth annual Bauder Lecture Series featuring Mat Johnson
CONTACT: Jarrett Carter Sr. Howard Community College 443-518-4073 [email protected]
