An award winning journalist and author, covering topics such as pop culture, families and social issues, will pay a visit to Iowa State on Tuesday night.

Leonard Pitts Jr., a prominent writer, will present his lecture entitled “Looking for a Few Good Men” at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Pitts has written for publications such as The Miami Herald, Musician, Spin and Reader’s Digest.

He is known in Iowa for his column that appears in the Des Moines Register every Monday and Friday.

Fern Kupfer, associate professor of English and chairwoman of the university committee on lectures, said Pitts will cover topics on fatherhood and what it means to be a black man in today’s society.

“He gives a strong message about families, what it means to be a man and intolerance, without ever being an ideologue,” Kupfer said, “He comes from a moral perspective, but he is never didactic, never preachy,”

Kupfer said Pitts’ lecture will be received well by those who attend because Pitts’ writing style strikes a chord with Iowans.

“His writing is not very edgy, it’s always kind and it has a lot of common sense, and I think Iowans have a lot of common sense,” Kupfer said.

Patricia Miller, program manager of the lectures program, said Pitts has been suggested as a speaker to the lectures committee for years.

“His columns are always thought provoking,” she said. “Whenever committee members hear repeated comments about what a columnist has to say, it is a good time to try and bring that person to campus.”

Miller said the timing for Pitts’ lecture is poignant to his message, which covers topics in his book, “Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood.”

“It was fortunate that he was able to be here in February for Black History Month and to talk about the subject of his book,” Miller said.