Oklahoma City Community College will host author and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Friedman at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2017, in the college’s Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater. The lecture is free and open to the community.

Friedman, who has served as a foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times since 1995, will discuss trends shaping the world today, global forces driving change in the Middle East, as well as his latest book, “Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations.â€

“We are thrilled to have such a renowned author and journalist join the lecture series,†said OCCC President Jerry Steward. “Having decades of experience, particularly in the Middle East, Mr. Friedman offers a unique perspective on the world and its affairs, and we look forward to the opportunity to learn from him.â€

Friedman is renowned for his direct reporting and sophisticated analysis of complex issues. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1983 for his coverage of the Israeli invasion of Beirut, in 1988 for balanced and informed coverage of Israel, and in 2002 for commentary on the worldwide impact of the terrorist threat.

Friedman is best known for his works “From Beirut to Jerusalem†and “The World is Flat.†He has also authored “Hot, Flat, and Crowded,†“That Used to Be Us,†“The Lexus and the Olive Tree,†and “Longitudes and Attitudes.†For more information about Thomas L. Friedman and his works, visit www.thomaslfriedman.com.

The event continues the Paul Sechrist Signature Lecture Series. The series launched in 2014 with Francis Ford Coppola as the inaugural speaker. For more information about this event, visit www.occc.edu/friedman.

OCCC enrolls more than 20,000 students and has more than 90,000 participants in its various community programs annually. The college is currently the largest adult basic education provider in the state. OCCC offers a full range of associate degree programs that prepare students to transfer to baccalaureate institutions while other degree and certificate programs prepare students for immediate employment. At OCCC, students receive a quality education with small class sizes, dedicated professors and leadership opportunities. Students can choose from more than 80 major fields of study and participate in any of the 40+ clubs and organizations. For more information about OCCC, visit www.occc.edu.