SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford College will host a panel discussion on Refugee Resettlement in Spartanburg at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, in Leonard Auditorium in Main Building. The event is free and open to the public.

Participating on the panel will be four Wofford professors:

• Dr. Laura H. Barbas Rhoden, professor of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, who will discuss Hispanic refugees and immigrants who have settled in Spartanburg and the Upstate. She teaches Spanish and operates Wofford’s programs involving the Hispanic community at Arcadia Elementary School and the surrounding community.
• Dr. Philip C. Dorroll, assistant professor of religion, who is an expert on Turkey.
• Dr. Mark S. Byrnes, associate professor and chair of the Department of History, who will provide an historical perspective on the American experience with refugees.
• Dr. Kimberly A. Rostan, associate professor of English, who will provide the perspective of the theme of refugees in literature.

The discussion, which will be moderated by Dr. Byron R. McCane, the Albert C. Outler Professor of Religion, will be followed by question-and-answer sessions for students and others in the audience. World Relief, a faith-based organization, has approval to resettle 60 refugees in Spartanburg this year. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard was in Spartanburg last month to discuss the resettlement program.

“We feel that the resettlement program is an important issue to discuss in our community, and professors at Wofford College who are experts in their fields can provide some perspective on the issue,” McCane says. “We want to provide our students and the community with a forum in which to learn by hearing from well-informed voices on the issue.”