Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking to speak at CSM Feb. 6

Omaha, Neb. – College of Saint Mary has announced Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, a Pulitzer Prize nominee and international best-selling author, will be the featured speaker at the College of Saint Mary 10th Annual Elden Curtiss Lecture Series on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The lecture will take place at CSM’s Lied Fitness Center at 7 p.m.

Sister Helen has spent more than two decades spurring national dialogue surrounding the death penalty and advocating for human rights. Her book, Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States, was ranked number one for 31 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list. The groundbreaking novel, which recounts her experience as a spiritual advisor to a man sentenced to execution, has been translated into 10 different languages, adapted into a major motion picture, and has been recreated as both operas and plays.

Her second book, The Death of Innocents: An Eye Witness Account of Wrongful Executions, was published in 2004.

As a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, Sister Helen has also dedicated more than 20 years to counseling death row prisoners and the families of murder victims, as well as educating the public about the death penalty. The founder of “Survive”, a victims’ advocacy group, she has held a range of leadership positions, including being Chairperson of the Board of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, a member of Amnesty International, and an honorary member of Murder Victim Families for Reconciliation.

Admission to the 10th Annual Elden Curtiss Lecture Series is free and open to the public. Reserve your spot here.