(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)October 8, 2009

(MAHWAH, NJ) – Former  U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky will be appearing at Ramapo College of New Jersey, first to hold an open discussion regarding his work and life, then to read excerpts from his works, including poems from his latest poetry collection, “Gulf Music.”

As Poet Laureate, Robert Pinsky focused on making poetry accessible and meaningful to all in our diverse nation. He is the founder of the Favorite Poem Project, in which thousands of Americans of varying backgrounds, ethnicities, ages and interests, shared their favorite poems. Pinsky used this program to show how poetry has a vigorous presence in the modern American cultural landscape, breaking the stereotype of poetry’s place in the romantic past. Pinsky believes that poetry addresses cultural needs by communicating a shared set of social meanings while simultaneously being intimate accounts of personal feelings, a paradox that has become part of his effort to demonstrate the complexity of American poetry.

In addition to being the first Poet Laureate to hold three terms, Robert Pinsky has written a number of poetry collections, including “The Figured Wheel: New and Collected Poems 1966-1996,” which received the Lenore Marshall Award and the Ambassador Book Award of the English Speaking Union. His best selling translation of “The Inferno of Dante” received the Los Angeles Times Book Award in Poetry and the Howard Morton Landon Prize for translation. He is also the winner of various other awards, including the 2008 Theodore M. Roethke Memorial Poetry Award. Pinsky currently teaches in the graduate writing program at Boston University, as well as writes the weekly “Poet’s Choice” column for the Washington Post.

The event is sponsored by the School of American and International Studies Colloquium series, the Readings of Ramapo Visiting Writers Series and the Office of the President. A question and answer session and open discussion about the poet’s life and work will begin Thursday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. in the Trustees Pavilion, and the live reading will begin at 7 p.m., also in the Trustees Pavilion. The event is free and open to the public.

###

About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Press Release Archives

| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 |