LAKELAND, Fla. (March 14, 2006) — Florida Southern College welcomes Khaled Hosseini to discuss his best-selling novel “The Kite Runner” at Branscomb Auditorium on campus, March 22 at 7 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow the lecture.

“It is our privilege to have Dr. Khaled Hosseini visit our campus,” said college president Anne B. Kerr. “His novel, ‘The Kite Runner,’ allowed our freshmen to examine the cultural and social issues contributing to turmoil in Afghanistan and the world, throughout history and to this day. His powerful work has made a tremendous impact on the lives of his readers.”

Hosseini’s lecture is part of FSC’s Founders Week activities and the culmination of a year-long study of “The Kite Runner” by FSC freshmen. FSC assigned the novel, an epic tale of friendship and betrayal that takes us from the final days of Afghanistan’s monarchy to the atrocities of the present, to all freshmen as a common summer reading project. Professors and students explored the novel in the Examined Life freshman seminar course (EXL), and the college planned book-related events during orientation and the 2005-2006 school year. “This shared intellectual experience introduces new students to the interconnected academic environment they’ve joined,” said Dr. Marcie Pospichal, director of academic support services. “Due to its complexity and relevance to current political issues, ‘The Kite Runner’ was the ideal springboard for academic discussion.” Hosseini also will speak at a special convocation for freshmen and their EXL instructors earlier in the day.

Hosseini, born in Kabul, Afghanistan, left Afghanistan with his family when he was 11. His family was granted political asylum in the United States and moved to California when Hosseini was 15. Hosseini is in practice as an internist and is married with two children. “The Kite Runner” is his first novel.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U. S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelors and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.