President Laurie A. Carter | Official website
President Laurie A. Carter | Official website
Patricia Smith, a renowned poet and performer, is set to deliver the annual University Convocation address at Lawrence University on January 24. The event will take place at 12:30 p.m. in Memorial Chapel.
Smith, who has gained recognition in National Poetry Slam circles, is also an accomplished teacher, playwright, and performance artist. Her notable works include "Unshuttered" (2023), "Incendiary Art" (2017), "Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah" (2012), and "Blood Dazzler" (2008). She has been influential in poetry and spoken word for over thirty years.
Catherine Kautsky, co-chair of the faculty committee leading the convocations, expressed enthusiasm about Smith's visit. “We are so lucky to have this amazing poet and performing artist here on our campus,” she said. “She not only writes great poetry, but she speaks it with an intensity and fire that makes one feel as if poetry is the most potent language the world has to offer.”
Students enrolled in Lawrence’s First-Year Studies course may recognize Smith from her book "Blood Dazzler," which was a finalist for the National Book Awards in 2008. The judges praised it for capturing the human impact of Hurricane Katrina. They noted that “Out of the maelstrom of the Slam, Patricia Smith conjures a harsh and elegant poetry in Blood Dazzler.”
Smith's career includes numerous accolades. She is a Guggenheim fellow, a recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and has been a finalist for both the Neustadt Prize and Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. Additionally, she holds multiple titles as National Poetry Slam champion.
Ahead of her convocation address, several faculty members held a forum discussing Smith's work on January 16 at Main Hall.
The Winter Term convocation is part of three annual convocations at Lawrence University. These events feature guest speakers who discuss contemporary issues. Other convocations include the Matriculation Convocation in September and the Honors Convocation in May.
The convocations are free to attend and open to everyone.
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