Wiltrout named 1998 Outstanding Humanist

Are the humanities for everyone or just a few intellectuals? Can and should everyone enjoy philosophy, language, history, and theater? MSU's Outstanding Humanist for 1998 will tackle these questions and others-in both English and Spanish-in an Oct. 21 public lecture.

Dr. Ann E. Wiltrout, professor of foreign languages, will present "Inclusive Not Exclusive" in 12 Allen Hall as part of the ceremonies honoring her selection as Outstanding Humanist. A reception will follow.

The Outstanding Humanist Award program is co-sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and the College of Arts and Sciences at MSU. The university selection committee includes members of the Institute for the Humanities: Michael Clifford, Lorenzo Crowell, Jack Jordan, Don Mabry, and Susan Snell.

Wiltrout joined the university's Department of Foreign Languages in 1969. Among her honors and achievements, she received a Fellowship in Residence for College Teachers from the National Endowment for the Humanities for 1977-78, a Hanover College Distinguished Alumni Award and a Certificate of Distinguished Service from the Institute of International Education.

She also serves as a reader for the advanced placement exams in Spanish and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Delta Pi, Phi Sigma Iota, and Alpha Gamma Delta.

Wiltrout has written a book, "A Patron and a Playwright in Renaissance Spain: The House of Feria and Diego Sanchez de Badajoz," as well as several articles and book chapters on Spanish Golden Age topics. She also directed a play, "La Cueva de Salamanca/The Cave of Salamanca," in both Spanish and English.

She earned a bachelor's degree from Hanover (Ind.) College and a doctorate from Indiana University.