Political scientist, professor and journalist Mark Lilla will present “Identity and Citizenship” at Northern Michigan University on Thursday, April 12. His talk begins at 7 p.m. in the University Center Michigan Room. The lecture is presented by the NMU Center for Academic and Intellectual Freedom in cooperation with the NMU College Democrats, College Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty.

Lilla's most recent book, "The Once and Future Liberal," is described as "an urgent wake-up call to American liberals to turn from the divisive politics of identity and develop a vision of our future that can persuade all citizens that they share a common destiny." The Detroit native also is a frequent contributor to "The New York Review of Books" and "The New York Times." 

Lilla studied at the University of Michigan and Harvard University. He has held professorships at New York University, the University of Chicago and Columbia University. During his time in education, he has been awarded fellowships by the Institut d’études avancées in Paris, the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Study and the American Academy of Rome.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served following the lecture.