Best-selling author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman will speak to the GW community next semester, the University announced today.

Friedman will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, but the location of the “lecture” and information regarding tickets is not yet available, according to a news release. The release did say that the event will be free.

Friedman’s most recent work, “Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution — and How It Can Renew America,” is part of GW’s Freshman Reading Program. Dean of Freshmen Fred Siegel asked the class of 2013 to read the book over the summer and write essay responses to the book.

Assistant Vice President for communications Sarah Baldassaro said she did not know if Friedman would participate in any other events at GW.

In 2006, Siegel asked the then-freshman class to read another Friedman book, “The World is Flat.” Friedman has won three Pulitzer Prizes.