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The °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ Academic Lecture Series presents a distinguished lecture featuring model, actor and deaf activist Nyle DiMarco, winner of Dancing with the Stars and America's Next Top Model, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, at 7 p.m. in the University Theatre. The free event is hosted by the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Born into a multigenerational deaf family, DiMarco is an honorary spokesperson for Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids and founder of the Nyle DiMarco Foundation, which works to improve the lives of deaf people around the world. DiMarco was also a creative collaborator on The ASL App, created by native deaf signers to teach conversational American Sign Language.

With a passion for language, literacy and advocacy within the deaf community and beyond, DiMarco will share his barrier-breaking story as a deaf man who has risen above stereotypes in a 40-minute speech titled, "Living Out Loud." Believing that his deafness is "an asset rather than a limitation," he builds a bridge between deaf and hearing worlds by shining a light on not only the struggles but also the triumphs of deaf culture. Above all, DiMarco shows audiences that with a sense of community, commitment to goals, and belief in yourself, they can accomplish anything.

A question and answer session and audience meet and greet will follow DiMarco's talk.

The °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ Academic Lecture Series, funded by student service fees, adds a significant asset to the university by supporting the LU academic community to hold two lectures each year featuring distinguished speakers whose disciplines are represented by each of the university's colleges.