Norfolk Portsmouth Newport News, VA, September 23, 2026 — Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi is conducting a series of academic lectures across Western Virginia, focusing on the intersection of literature and politics. A former literature professor, Hashmi is leveraging her academic background to explore these themes with students and the public.

The itinerary includes stops at multiple educational institutions. Hashmi recently spoke at Wytheville Community College, where her lecture centered on Studs Terkel’s seminal work, “Working.” This book, known for its oral histories of American workers, provides a rich ground for examining societal structures and individual experiences through a political lens.

Looking ahead, the Lieutenant Governor is scheduled to visit Radford University. At Radford, her discussion will focus on the literary contributions of Sharyn McCrumb, an author whose works often delve into Appalachian culture and history, themes that can be closely tied to regional politics and identity.

The lecture series will also include a stop at Roanoke College. Here, Hashmi plans to engage with the works of both Barbara Kingsolver, an acclaimed contemporary author known for her social commentary, and Charles Dickens, the 19th-century novelist whose writings frequently addressed social injustice and political reform in Victorian England. The selection of these authors suggests a broad scope for the discussions, spanning different eras and styles of literary engagement with societal issues.

Hashmi’s background as a literature professor provides a unique perspective for these engagements, allowing her to bridge academic discourse with her current public service role. The lectures are intended to foster a deeper understanding of how literary works can reflect, critique, and influence political and social landscapes.


Story summarized from the original created by Dwayne Yancey on cardinalnews.org, see more information here.

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