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Octavia Spencer to Speak on Campus, Oct. 21

Actress Octavia Spencer will headline the University's Speaker Series on Saturday, Oct. 21.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 10, 2017) – Academy Award-winning actress and author Octavia Spencer will headline the University at Albany’s Speaker Series during Homecoming Family and Reunion Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 21.

The event is free and open to current UAlbany students, faculty/staff, alumni, and the general public. It is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. in SEFCU Arena. Doors will be open at 6:30 p.m.


Tickets are now available. Those interested in attending must visit ualbany.universitytickets.com to register. Due to anticipated demand, only four tickets will be available per registrant. Printed confirmations are required for admittance and seating is first-come, first-serve.


Since its inception in 2008, the University’s Speaker Series has strived to bring world leaders and thinkers to campus. It has featured nationally-recognized icons including President Bill Clinton (Spring 2011), Earvin 'Magic' Johnson (2011), Bill Nye (Spring 2015), and most recently U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (Spring 2017).

Spencer recently starred as mathematician Dorothy Vaughan in the Academy Award-nominated drama "Hidden Figures." The film tells the true story of several female African-American mathematicians at NASA who were key to the 1960's era space race between the United States and Russia. Her performance earned her nominations for the Academy Awards, SAG Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

She will next be seen in Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated fantasy drama, “The Shape of Water.” In 2012, she won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award among numerous other accolades for her portrayal of Minny Jackson in the “The Help.”

As an author, Spencer started a children's book series titled “Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective.” She has published two books in the series, titled “The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit” (2013) and “The Sweetest Heist in History” (2015).

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Auburn University in 1993.

For more information on this event, please contact University tickets: [email protected]

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A comprehensive public research university, the University at Albany-SUNY offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors and 125 master's, doctoral and graduate certificate programs. UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as atmospheric and environmental sciences, businesseducation, public health,health sciences, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering and applied sciences, informatics, public administration, social welfare and sociology, taught by an extensive roster of faculty experts. It also offers expanded academic and research opportunities for students through an affiliation with Albany Law School. With a curriculum enhanced by 600 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers.