John Hollander, the Sterling Professor Emeritus of English at Yale, has been named Connecticut's new poet laureate.
The poet laureate, an honorary position established by the Connecticut legislature in 1985, functions as an advocate for poetry, fostering appreciation of poetry and writing throughout the state.
"Hollander is an inspiring presence in American literary life and one of the nation's most distinguished poets," said An-Ming Truxes, director of the Arts Division of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT), which announced Hollander's appointment.
The Yale poet will serve a five-year term, from 2007 through 2011, and will receive an annual stipend of $1,000. He succeeds Marilyn Nelson, who began her term as poet laureate in 2001. Previous Connecticut poet laureates include Leo Connellan and James Merrill.
Since receiving the Yale Younger Poets Prize in 1958 for his first collection of poems, "A Crackling of Thorns," Hollander has written 22 books of poetry, which have been acclaimed for their virtuosity and originality. He is also the author of several works of criticism and numerous anthologies, as well as books for children and operatic and lyric works with composers such as Milton Babbitt and George Perle.
Until his retirement in 2003, Hollander taught at Yale for decades, and he has given many public talks and readings. His "Rhyme's Reason" has been hailed as the definitive handbook for teaching poetry and has influenced generations of students.
Hollander's many honors and awards include the Bollingen Prize, the Levinson Prize and the Shaughnessy Medal of the Modern Language Association, as well as fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. A former chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, he received the 1997 Connecticut Governor's Arts Award.
"John Hollander brings honor to the poet laureate post, and his extensive work and talent serve as an inspiration for Connecticut's citizens," says Jennifer Aniskovich, executive director of the CCT. "We are fortunate to count this talented poet among our rich and diverse pool of state artists."
The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism convened a distinguished panel of poets and literary professionals to serve on the poet laureate selection committee. Panelists included Elizabeth Alexander, poet and professor of African-American studies at Yale; David Barber, poetry editor at the Atlantic Monthly; and J.D. McClatchy, poet, librettist and professor of English at Yale.
T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S
University launches 'Yale Tomorrow' campaign
Gift of $50 million to create Greenberg Yale-China Initiative
Greenberg: 'Flexibility' will be key Yale asset in China
Program will educate corporate leaders about . . . climate change
V.P. and union president co-chairing Yale-United Way Campaign
This year's 'Science Saturdays' for children celebrates women scientists
Alumnus Robert Burger is named an assistant provost
MEDICAL CENTER NEWS
More Yale-related MacArthur Fellows
Yale's Endowment earns 22.9% in the past fiscal year
Erin Lavik and Tarek Fahmy win biomedical engineering awards
Are we alone? 'Alien Earths' explores scientists' quest to find out
Exhibit explores connections between art and music in different period
Yale novelists, poets and playwrights will read from their works
Works by photojournalists in Iraq on view at ISM
Study finds affirmation exercise boosts minority . . .
Conference to explore ways to increase diversity in higher education
Traveling Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival comes to campus
Ancient coins will be showcased in 'The Romans in Asia' symposium
Two noted scientists serving as visiting scholars . . .
Five alumni to be honored with Wilbur Lucius Cross Medals
Five junior faculty members are honored by The MacMillan Center . . .
Memorial service for Jaroslav Pelikan
University of Michigan professor wins Yale's Douglass Prize
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home