Illinois Poet Laureate at McKendree’s Holman Library on March 27

Lebanon, Ill. — Meet Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein as he reads and discusses his work at McKendree University’s Holman Library in Lebanon, Ill., on Thursday, March 27. A reception will be held in the Reading Room at 5 p.m. before his reading at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor. The public is welcome to attend this free event.

In December 2003, the Illinois governor named Stein the state’s fourth Poet Laureate. A Poet Laureate brings poetry to the people, to make it more available, accessible and appreciated.

The accolade is one of many Stein has earned during his career as a poet, critic, editor and teacher. He has published six full-length poetry collections, two poetry chapbooks, three scholarly books, two poetry anthologies, and numerous poems and essays published in journals as well as anthologies. His recent publications include the collection “Wrestling Li Po for the Remote”and “Poetry’s Afterlife: Verse in the Digital Age.” His work has been recognized by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, among others. In addition, his collections have garnered the Devins Award for Poetry and the Society of Midland Authors Poetry Award.

Stein is a former Faculty Member of the Year at Bradley University, where he serves as Caterpillar Professor of English and coordinates the creative writing program.

 

Dr. Kevin Stein, Illinois Poet Laureate