Marquette Ph.D. student to perform at opening of Obama Presidential Center

Cameron Roman, a Ph.D. candidate in Marquette's Department of Philosophy, will perform with his Native drum group, Little Priest, at the opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Saturday, June 20, on Chicago's South Side.

Roman, who studies Social and Political Theory and Native American philosophy with a focus on Necropolitics, sings as part of Little Priest throughout Southeast Wisconsin and in the Chicagoland area.

Little Priest, along with the Chicago-based Black Hawk Performance Company, will be part of the kickoff weekend for the Obama Presidential Center, a cultural and civic campus created to commemorate the legacy of former President Barack Obama while also serving as a public gathering space and community resource. Spanning about 19 acres, the center includes a museum detailing Obama's life and presidency, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, spaces for education and public programming and outdoor features like gardens and recreational areas.

"I'm honored and excited for the opportunity to showcase my people's ongoing presence and unique contributions to Chicago's vibrant culture," Roman said.