Acclaimed Kentucky author Silas House will deliver the commencement address for Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Class of 2025. House will also receive an honorary Doctor of Letters during the ceremony, set for 10 a.m. on May 10 at Owensboro Christian Church.
“Silas House is not only one of Kentucky’s most profound literary voices, he’s also an advocate for the power of storytelling,” said KWC President James Cousins. “It is a privilege to welcome him to our campus. We know the Class of 2025 will be inspired by his creativity, advocacy, and commitment to community.”
House, a New York Times bestselling author, has published seven novels, including his latest, Lark Ascending, winner of the 2023 Southern Book Prize and the 2023 Nautilus Book Award. His work has appeared in leading national publications, and he is a former NPR commentator. His 2018 novel, Southernmost, is in pre-production as a feature film.
Beyond literature, House has worked extensively in film and music. He co-produced and wrote Tyler Childers’ In Your Love music video, which earned Grammy, ACM, and CMT nominations. A member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, House has collaborated with artists including Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, and Lucinda Williams.
The Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2023-25, House teaches at Berea College and the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Creative Writing. He was a 2023 National Book Award fiction judge and resides in Lexington.
