Paul Tough to speak at ODU’s Darden College of Education

February 20, 2017

Paul Tough

Old Dominion University's Darden College of Education will host New York Times best-selling author, journalist and child education advocate Paul Tough on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

In the talk, at 6 p.m. in the first floor Multipurpose Auditorium of the new Education Building, Tough will discuss research in psychology and neuroscience that provides insights and strategies for a new approach to childhood adversity.

The event, which is being sponsored by Jane P. Batten and the United Way of South Hampton Roads' Board of Directors, is open to the public; however, reservations are required. They can be made via an online form or by calling the United Way of South Hampton Roads at 757-853-8500, ext. 120.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with our community partners and host Paul Tough in the newest academic building on the campus of Old Dominion University," said Jane Bray, dean of the College of Education. "The exchange of intellectual resources remains a top priority for the Darden College of Education, and we will continue to seek ways to advance our communities through research, teaching and service activities."

Tough is the author, most recently, of "Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why." The book explores the varied and daunting obstacles faced by children living in poverty in the United States and addresses what they need to thrive. It offers examples of programs and practices that are helping low-income children across the country overcome difficult circumstances. The book concludes with recommendations for practitioners, policy makers and others who want to make a difference.

Tough's previous book, "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character," was translated into 27 languages and spent more than a year on the New York Times hardcover and paperback best-seller lists. His first book, "Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America," was published in 2008.

Tough is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine, where he has written extensively about education, parenting, poverty and politics. His work has also appeared in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, GQ and Esquire and on the op-ed pages of the New York Times.

The Darden College of Education prepares students to be education, industry and service professionals through its six departments: Communication Disorders & Special Education, Counseling & Human Services, Educational Foundations & Leadership, Human Movement Sciences, STEM Education & Professional Studies, and Teaching & Learning.