Mary B. Thomas ’28 (1907-1999) was active as both a student and an alumna of Otterbein, and when she passed, she ensured that her legacy would continue to impact every new student who enters the University.
Thomas founded Otterbein’s Common Book program in 1995 as a shared academic experience for all first-year students — one of the first of its kind in the country. Thanks to her generosity, each summer a Common Book has been distributed to all first-year students free of charge. Faculty and staff also receive a free copy of the book so they may prepare for the upcoming year’s events and have a common reading experience to connect with the new students.
Program organizers encourage all faculty members to use the book in their classes, take part in the year-long programming related to the book, or discuss the book with first-year students in informal ways. The highlight of the experience is a campus visit by the author for the Common Book Convocation and book signing. Additionally, students in Theatre 1000 interpret the Common Book’s issues through a series of playlets each year.
A committee of faculty, staff, and students select from over 50 books each year in an effort to find a significant contemporary work to read the next year. This year’s Common Book author, John Hendrickson, visited campus Oct. 7-8 to discuss his book, Life on Delay.
The Power of the Pen
Over the past 30 years, Common Book authors have shared personal moments with students, faculty, and staff at public book signings. Here are a few of those moments from over the years.
Ruth Ozeki (right), author of My Year of Meats, at her 2002 book signing event with students.
Bryan Stevenson (right), author of Just Mercy, greeting a student at the 2017 book signing.
Conor Grennan (left) signing Little Princes for faculty member Denise Shively (right) in 2013.
Simran Jeet Singh (right), author of The Light We Give, at the book signing event held at Courtright Library in 2024.
