Marygrove Announces Executive Director Of Institute Of Detroit Studies & 2019 “Defining Detroit” Series

Marygrove College is pleased to announce Dr. Shaun S. Nethercott as executive director of the college's Institute for Detroit Studies (IDS). This appointment was made ahead of IDS's Defining Detroit spring series, which begins February 11 and will bring award-winning authors and artists to the college for lectures, readings, exhibits, and performances.

"Dr. Nethercott is an activist, educator, award-winning artist, and passionate Detroiter who has more than three decades of experience in community leadership," said Marygrove College President Dr. Elizabeth Burns. "I can think of no one else more qualified to lead IDS.

"We're also grateful for a grant from The Kresge Foundation that is allowing Marygrove to revitalize IDS as part of our ongoing commitment to remain an institutional leader within the city of Detroit."

Nethercott has extensive experience with both for- and non-profit companies and organizations, is the founder of the Matrix Theatre Company - a professional community-based social justice theater in Southwest Detroit producing plays with and for children and adults - and is the founding director of the Detroit Institute of Arts El Arte Alliance. She has produced 32 plays, is a Kresge Arts Fellow, and has earned innumerable awards.

To learn more about Marygrove College's Institute of Detroit Studies, visit https://www.marygrove.edu/detroit-studies. The college's 2019 Defining Detroit series begins on February 11 at 7 p.m., with an appearance by award-winning author Herb Boyd, who will present Leadership and Self-Determination in Early Twentieth-Century Black Detroit and sign copies of his latest book, Black Detroit: A People's History of Self-Determination.

Noted journalist and author Desiree Cooper will read from her 2017 book Know the Mother and other works on Wednesday, March 20. An exhibit of the works of Northwest Detroit artists is also planned for March 10 to April 5, and Daniel J. Clark, professor at Oakland University, will speak on "Disruption in Detroit: Challenging the 1950s Prosperity Myth on May 14. These "Defining Detroit" events are free and open to the public. Authors' books will be available for purchase.