Fairmont State University to Host Folk Artist Annick Odom for Presidential Speaker Series Event on April 7

Fairmont State University will welcome the 2025-2026 Artist-in-Residence, Annick Odom, to campus on April 7 at 6 p.m. in the Falcon Center Conference Rooms as part of the Spring 2026 Presidential Speaker Series. The series brings influential voices from across politics, business, education, the arts, and other fields to encourage meaningful dialogue and intellectual engagement. Events are free and open to the public.

Odom's talk, titled Music, Stories, and Tradition in Motion, will offer a more interactive experience than typical Presidential Speaker Series events. After the lecture and fireside chat, the evening will feature a square dance at 7:30 p.m. in Falcon Center Gym 2, inviting participants to explore Appalachian culture through movement, music, and shared community traditions. The Kennedy Barn String Band will provide live music, with Odom and Tim Olszanski calling and teaching the dances. No experience or partner is necessary to join in the fun.

"The Presidential Speaker Series is one of the most meaningful ways we bring new ideas, creative voices, and distinct perspectives to campus," said President Mike Davis. "I am especially excited to welcome Annick Odom, whose work beautifully reflects the depth and richness of Appalachian culture. Her program will offer the community a chance to engage with history, music, and storytelling in immersive and inspiring ways. This is exactly the type of experience we hope to provide through this series-to spark curiosity, encourage connection, and strengthen our sense of place."

A Morgantown native, Odom is a Belgian-American performer, composer and folk musician whose work blends Appalachian ballads with experimental composition and storytelling. She performs internationally and leads collaborative arts initiatives dedicated to preserving and celebrating Appalachian heritage and fostering community creativity, including the Morgantown Crankie Festival and Morgantown Soundstreams-a concert and improvisation series-among others.

Earlier this semester, the University hosted Dr. Mike Lee, Professor and Director of the Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston (SC), and the series will conclude with Chelsea Ruby, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism, on April 28 at 6 p.m.

Odom's April 7 appearance promises an evening of music, storytelling, and cultural reflection, giving students, faculty, staff, and community members the chance to experience Appalachian history and creativity in an immersive and memorable way. All Presidential Speaker Series events are free of charge and open to everyone to attend.

To learn more about the Presidential Speaker Series, visit https://www.fairmontstate.edu/about/president/speaker-series.aspx.