An evening of food, conversation and poetry are on tap when West Virginia Universitys popular Faculty Dinner Series returns Monday, Feb. 18.

David Stewart, associate vice presidentfor student affairs, dean of students and associate professor of English, is the guest speaker. The event will begin with a free dinner at 6 p.m. in the Mountainlair Gold Ballroom, followed by Stewarts presentation about poetry.

The dinner series provides opportunities for sophomores and juniors to learn more about a subject in their particular major or area of interest, listen to our outstanding faculty present on those subjects and spend time with other students with similar interests,said Sheila Powell, special assistant to the vice president for student affairs.

Stewart, a native of Peterborough, England, received his doctorate in English from the University of Oxford. In 1991, he came to WVU as an assistant professor, teaching British literature with a specialty in English Romanticism and the work of poet William Blake.

Stewart and his wife, Shawna, are resident faculty leaders for Boreman Hall.

The Faculty Dinner Series is part of the Sophomore/Junior Year Experience that mixes student support activities with services designed to inform undergraduates on everything from getting involved on campus to getting a job. Everyone who participates will receive a small gift.

WVU students interested in attending should e-mail kelli.eisentrout@mail.wvu.edu to reserve a space.

Two more Faculty Dinner Series presentations are planned for spring 2008. Andrea Weber, an instructor in the Department of Communication Studies, will give a talk March 18; Provost Jerry Lang will present on April 8.

For more information, visithttp://sophomorejunioryear.experience.wvu.edu/.