October 28, 2009 - Joseph Marshall III, accomplished Native American author of "The Lakota Way" and "The Power of Four," will speak, answer questions and participate in a book signing at California State University, Bakersfield on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Icardo Center.

Marshall was born on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota where he was raised by his maternal grandparents in a traditional native household. He learned the ancient art of storytelling from his elders which ultimately provided the framework for his own work as an author. He has had a novel and six nonfiction works published and was a contributing author in four other publications. He has also written several screenplays, appeared in television documentaries, served as technical advisor in movies, and has had a role in a major television network movie. In 2005, he was a technical advisor and narrator for the Turner Network Television and Dreamworks six-part mini-series "Into the West," and played the on-screen role of the character Loved by the Buffalo.

One of his most treasured and meaningful experiences was to be one of the Sinte Gleska University founders in 1971 on the Rosebud Sioux Indian reservation.

Marshall's appearance is part of CSUB's Roadrunner First-Year Resources for Undergraduate Success and High Achievement (RUSH-A) program. RUSH-A allows students to experience CSUB as a university that encourages student participation and recognize the value of active involvement in the intellectual life of the campus through reading, discourse and engagement with faculty and students.