The SUNY Orange Student Book Club under with the guidance of Dr. Jared Young is an active group that goes beyond the classroom to broaden its educational opportunities. In recent discussions, the members proposed the idea of bringing an author to campus. Dr. Young suggested that he might be able to get a former classmate from his time at Oklahoma State University where they were studying for their doctorates. She had just published a book. She agreed.

Consequently, Dr. Jacqueline Alnes is coming to SUNY Orange on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 to speak about her book The Fruit Cure: The Story of Extreme Wellness Turned Sour. The venue is the Gilman Center, Library room 130 and the timeframe is 1:00 to 1:50pm. This event is open to the college community exclusively. All are welcome. Snacks will be provided by the SUNY Orange Student Book Club.

Dr. Alnes will read from her new book, The Fruit Cure. Then, a discussion/conversation and Q&A about the book and getting published will commence.

The Fruit Cure: The Story of Extreme Wellness Turned Sour explores the failures of our healthcare system and the dark side of wellness culture. Dr. Alnes explains how mysterious neurological symptoms derailed her career as a Division I runner and left her desperate for answers. She found hope in an unlikely place: a thriving, online community of fruit-eaters. The book takes readers on a spellbinding and unforgettable journey through the world of fruitarianism, interweaving her own powerful narrative with the popularity and problematic history of fruit-based, raw food lifestyles.

Jacqueline Alnes holds a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University and an M.F.A. from Portland State University. She is presently an Assistant Professor of English at West Chester University in Chester County, PA.

Dr. Alnes has extensive experience in writing. She has published essays in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Guernica, Women's Running, and Iron Horse Literary Review. In addition, she is a contributing writer at Electric Literature where she has published interviews with Nobel Prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah, International Booker Prize winner David Diop, and writers like Melissa Broder and Lidia Yuknavitch. Additional interviews which she has done can be found in Longreads and The Rumpus.

Another interesting note about Dr. Alnes is that a series of her paintings featuring inspiring athletes was featured on NBC during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and in Runner's World.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Cultural Affairs is co-sponsoring this event with the SUNY Orange Student Book Club. Questions may be directed to cultural@sunyorange.edu