Drew Hosts Summer Poetry Readings

June 2016 – The 2016 summer reading series for the MFA in poetry program at the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies will feature more than a dozen poets.

The poets include Oliver de la Paz, Judith Vollmer, Afaa Michael Weaver, Michael Waters and Aracelis Girmay. Students also will read their work. The series begins June 18 with Alicia Ostriker and Ellen Doré Watson and ends June 25 with the student poets.

Now in its eighth year, the series is organized by Sean Nevin, director of the MFA in poetry program. The series, which is open to the public, serves as a capstone event for each day of the program’s 10-day residency. Some 35 students enrolled this summer.

The program brings some of the world’s most honored writers to Drew’s campus for public events twice a year, including Pulitzer Prize winners, U.S Poet Laureates and Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets.

Last year’s series featured Pulitzer Prize-winner C.K. Williams and Gerald Stern, a Frost Medal recipient.

“The Drew MFA series is a rare opportunity to hear world-class, celebrated writers reading in an intimate setting amongst a very close and supportive community of poets and translators,” Nevin said.

For the full list of this year’s poets and to RSVP to one of the free readings, click here.