Professor Matt Brim celebrated the release of his new book, James Baldwin and the Queer Imagination (University of Michigan Press, 2014), at a launch event hosted by the main branch of the New York Public Library.

Brim was joined by Ayana Mathis, author of the best-selling novel, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, for a wide-ranging discussion of Baldwin and his work. In attendance at the Tuesday, December 2, 2014 event were Chirlane McCray, wife of New York City Mayor Bill DiBlasio, and their son, Dante.

Brim joined the English department at the College of Staten Island in 2007 and is currently on sabbatical writing his next book, Queer Pedagogy. Along with Professor Cynthia Chris from the Media Culture department, Brim co-edits the longstanding feminist and sexuality studies journal, WSQ, published by the Feminist Press at the Graduate Center of CUNY and sponsored by the College of Staten Island.