Lewiston native and former mayor Paul Dionne to discuss his books in-person and via Zoom from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, at the Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine in Lewiston. He has written two novels, “The Priestess and The Pope” and “Madeleine’s Inquisition,” both with the basic theme that the religious subordination of one sex to the other is wrong, and he will discuss these books and talk about his research process, as well as the influence of his Franco-American background on his writing. Following his presentation, there will be a Q & A session with the audience.

Dionne graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from Providence College and then was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Army (1966-1968). He saw action in Vietnam as an advisor to a Vietnamese Armored Cavalry unit and was decorated with two Bronze Stars, two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry, and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge. After his discharge he returned to Maine and attended the University of Maine Law School where he received a Juris Doctorate degree. He practiced law in Maine and was elected as Mayor of Lewiston (1980-1984). He served as the Workers Compensation Commissioner under two governors, the Hon. Angus King and the Hon. John Baldacci. While holding this position, he was elected president of the International Association of Industrial Accidents Boards and Commissions.

Dionne is married to Diane Leblanc Dionne and has two children, Melodie and Michelle, and five grandchildren Merissa, Michael, Olivia, Charlotte and Brennan. He currently lives in Auburn.

This event will be hybrid: the public is invited to join in-person at the Franco-American Collection located at 51 Westminster St., Lewiston, Room 170, or online via Zoom. Register for the Zoom link at maine.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctf-qvqTMoEtCnO5nnLYrmeIbTiryyJflv. All programs are recorded and archived and can be viewed at video.maine.edu/channel/Franco-American%2BCollection%2BHistory%2Band%2BMemory%2BVirtual%2BSeries/186544603.

For more information or to register, contact the FAC archivist, Anna Faherty at anna.faherty@maine.edu or by phone at 207-753-6545. If you have questions about disability access or need to request disability accommodations (e.g. sign language interpreters, materials in electronic format, etc.), please contact Anna Faherty at anna.faherty@maine.edu. Requests should be made as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for the accommodation process.

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