Neil Gaiman to address Rowan community March 7

Neil Gaiman is known the world over for his novels (American Gods, Neverwhere, The Graveyard Book), graphic novels (Sandman, Marvel 1602), feature films (Coraline, Mirror Mask) and television (Dr. Who).

He’ll soon also become known as a Rowan University guest lecturer.

Free tickets have already been released to the Rowan community but a limited number are now available to the public via an online lottery.

Gaiman will address the community as part of the President’s Lecture Series, a popular program that has brought to Rowan University such speakers as NY Times columnist Gail Collins, author Rebecca Skloot (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks), and Capt. Paul Watson, whose work against Japanese whalers has been documented by the Animal Planet show Whale Wars.

An Evening of Creativity with Neil Gaiman, 7 p.m. March 7 in the Pfleeger Concert Hall (inside Wilson Hall), will feature a lecture followed by a question-and-answer session about the artist’s work and inspiration.

Prior to the lecture, Gaiman, along with photographer/writer Kyle Cassidy, a Rowan alumnus, will lead an afternoon master class for a small group of Rowan University creative writing students.

Gaiman, who began his career as a journalist, is a popular speaker who advocates finding work that what makes one happy, even if the path to success isn’t always a straight one.

“The ability to make art, for me, has been a lifesaver,” he said in a 2012 address. “When things get tough, make good art.”

Lorin Basden Arnold, dean of Rowan’s College of Communication & Creative Arts, worked to bring Gaiman to the University for more than a year and believes his visit will be transformative.

“Neil Gaiman connects with his audiences across many venues, in a way that is truly incredible,” Arnold said. “His appearance at Rowan will be a highlight of our year.”

The lecture is sponsored by Rowan’s Office of the President, the College of Communication & Creative Arts and the Norton Fund for Excellence in the Study of Literature, with additional support from Rowan University at Camden, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Department of Writing Arts, and the Department of Radio, Television, & Film.