Valeria Luiselli, major contemporary author whose work explores Mexican-American migration, identity and belonging, is a 2019 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, and a National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" honoree. Her 2019 novel, The Lost Children Archive, tells the story of a family road trip that collides with an immigration crisis at the southwestern border. The New York Times named it one of the “10 Best Books of the Year.”

Her other bestselling books include The Story of My Teeth (2015) and Tell Me How It Ends (2016). Valeria Luiselli, major contemporary author whose work explores Mexican-American migration, identity and belonging, is a 2019 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, and a National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" honoree. Her 2019 novel, The Lost Children Archive, tells the story of a family road trip that collides with an immigration crisis at the southwestern border. The New York Times named it one of the “10 Best Books of the Year.” Her other bestselling books include The Story of My Teeth (2015) and Tell Me How It Ends (2016).

UAlbany’s Constitution Day and Great Dane Dialogue features a week of panels on navigating civil discourse in a divided society. Students will hear from journalists, advocates, and elected officials as they share perspectives on negotiation, collaboration, and civic engagement—offering real-world insights into building understanding, finding compromise, and strengthening democracy. 

Co-Sponsored by the Offices of Communications and Marketing, Inclusive Excellence, Student Affairs, First Year Experience, CATLOE, OGCR/Leading Questions, Rockefeller College, Interfaith Center, University Libraries and the New York State Writers Institute.

This event is cosponsored by New York State Writers Institute; the Departments of Sociology; Africana, Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies; the English Department’s Creative Writing Program and Young Writers Project; UAlbany’s Writing & Critical Inquiry Program (WCI) and the Honors College.

For a complete schedule of events, visit Great Dane Dialogue.