By Jaidyn Steinbrecher
Bestselling author and former actress Jennette McCurdy will visit Susquehanna University on April 23 as the featured speaker for the Student Government Association’s (SGA) annual speaker event. The event is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. in Weber Chapel.
McCurdy’s visit comes after SGA faced challenges securing a guest speaker during the fall semester. The Office of Leadership and Engagement previously announced actor Rainn Wilson, best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on “The Office,” as the fall speaker.
However, the event was canceled only weeks before its scheduled date due to contracting issues.
“SGA is sad to share that Rainn Wilson’s upcoming visit to Susquehanna University has been canceled. While we’re disappointed too, stay tuned for what we have coming soon instead.” Read a post on SGA’s official Instagram page.
Unfortunately, SGA was unable to find a replacement speaker before the end of the semester, leading the executive board to begin preemptively planning an even bigger spring speaker.
McCurdy rose to fame as a child actress, most notably for her role as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon’s popular series “iCarly” and its spinoff “Sam & Cat.” She later appeared in a variety of television and film projects before stepping away from acting altogether. In recent years, McCurdy has shifted her focus to writing and directing.
In 2022, McCurdy published her memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” which quickly became a New York Times bestseller. The book details her experiences growing up as a child star, her complicated relationship with her mother and her struggles with eating disorders and mental health. The memoir received widespread critical acclaim for its honesty and sparked national conversations surrounding child stardom and the pressures placed on young performers.
At Susquehanna, McCurdy will participate in a moderated discussion with SGA President Kyra Keenan. A Q&A session may follow, allowing students to engage directly with McCurdy and ask questions related to her career and personal journey.
Tickets for the event will be available for students to pick up with a valid student I.D. on April 16, 17, 20 and 21 between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the box office located outside the Degenstein Theatre. SGA encourages students to get their tickets as soon as possible due to expected high demand.
Tickets will also be available to community members and alumni for an undetermined amount, though historically, they have been $20. Public tickets will be available on Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23.
In addition to the main event, SGA may offer a limited meetandgreet opportunity with McCurdy. In past years, the organization has selected approximately 30 students to meet guest speakers and take photos with them. Previous guest speakers who participated in similar meetandgreets include Bill Nye and Steve Burns.
Looking ahead, SGA executive members hope to expand the guest speaker events during the next academic year, exploring the possibility of hosting two guest speakers instead of one, and giving students more opportunities to hear from influential figures across different industries.
SGA encourages students to stay informed through campus announcements for updates regarding ticket sales, event location and future speaker events.