Springfield, Ohio — The diverse array of 2007-08 Witt Series events continues at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, in Bayley Auditorium of the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center as Wittenberg University welcomes world-renowned poet Billy Collins.
The program is dedicated in memory of the late Allen Koppenhaver, a professor of English at Wittenberg from 1961 to 1991.
A professor of English at Lehman College of the City University of New York, Collins’ work appeals to a wide variety of readers and, when paired with his critical acclaim, has broken sales records with the release of his last three collections. In addition, his work has been featured in such notable publications as The New York Times, The Paris Review and The American Scholar.
“Luring his readers into the poem with humor, Mr. Collins leads them unwittingly into deeper, more serious places,” according to the New York Times. “[It’s] a kind of journey from the familiar to quirky to unexpected territory, sometimes tender, often profound.”
Collins served as United States Poet Laureate from 2001-2003, and he was later named New York State Poet Laureate from 2004-2006. He is also a Guggenheim Fellow and was named a New York Public Library “Literary Lion.”
“I see my poetry as a form of travel writing,” Collins said. “Humor is a door into the serious.”
The Witt Series, formerly known as the Wittenberg Series, brings distinguished lecturers and performing artists of national and international prominence to the campus and local community. For more information about the Series, visit the university's Web site. To make special arrangements reserve a Series poster or become a friend of the Witt Series, contact Jeannine Fox at (937) 327-7470.
Written By: Erica Strauss '08
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