Penn State Altoona professor honored for contributions to Liberian literature

ALTOONA, Pa. — Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, professor of English at Penn State Altoona, was awarded the Judge Emma Shannon Walser Medal of Patriotism for her decades of contributions to Liberian Literature. The award was presented to Wesley by the Liberian Institute for Growing Patriotism (LIGP) and the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) for Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace, and Security. The award was established in 2013 to honor the memory of the country’s first female judge and recognizes Liberians who have contributed greatly to the nation.

The ceremony took place June 11 at the Law School of the University of Liberia and was attended by Liberian government officials, the president of the university, U.S. diplomats, and EU representatives. Wesley read several of her poems and gave a brief talk on her poetry, Liberian literature, and her newest book, “Breaking the Silence,” the first comprehensive anthology of Liberian literature.

Wesley’s visit to Liberia was a scholarly research trip to gather material for her next book and to conduct poetry workshops for young, aspiring writers. From May 7 to June 11, Wesley spent time conducting research and reading her poetry in parts of the capital city of Monrovia and in her home county of Maryland in Southeastern Liberia. On May 19, she launched her newest book, “Breaking the Silence: Anthology of Liberian Poetry” and offered remarks about the Grebo Oral tradition and its influence on her works.

On June 5, Wesley opened the annual celebration of her alma mater, the College of West Africa (CWA), where she served as the motivational speaker for the week. CWA is one of Liberia’s oldest and most prestigious educational institutions, established in 1829 before the nation’s independence. It was at CWA that Wesley first learned how to develop and hone her craft. Wesley kicked off the celebratory week with a presentation titled “You Can Be Anything You Want to Be No Matter Where You Come From.”

On June 9, Wesley conducted a writing workshop for young aspiring writers, concluding her visit with the high schoolers reading their poems. The workshop was conducted in what was formerly Wesley’s homeroom in 1976. To conclude her visit to Liberia, Wesley also donated several of her books to CWA and the University of to the University of Liberia, her other alma mater.