Dr. Sara Hughes
By Jordan Beach
Each semester, Reinhardt University’s Community Gathering series brings diverse speakers with perspectives and stories to share from their rich variety of life experiences. The next event in the series serves as the first Fall Poetry Reading for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program.
Dr. Sara Hughes will read her work on Oct. 24, 7 p.m. in the Community Room at Hill Freeman Library & Spruill Learning Center.
Hughes, assistant director of creative writing at The University of Alabama, will discuss poetry and why it matters. Those attending will be given the chance to ask Hughes about her writing career.
“I chose Sara Hughes because I have known her for many years and have respected her and her poetry immensely,” said Bill Walsh, director of the MFA in Creative Writing program.
“As the recent winner of The Adrienne Bond Poetry Award from Mercer University Press, I knew Sara would speak directly to all students. I wanted the inaugural poet to be someone who will bring momentum to the reading series and help establish the program and carry it forward year after year.”
Hughes’ poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, the 2015 Best of the Net Anthology and the 2015 Independent Best American Poetry Award.
The spring counterpart to the series will debut Feb. 27, 2019. Fiction writer George Singleton will visit campus to read and discuss his work, along with meeting with writing and English majors for a writing workshop.
Walsh’s goal in creating the poetry and fiction series was for students to reconnect to written word, having an experience that motivates them towards action, thought or simply enjoying the art form.
“Somewhere along the way in life, people become turned off or frightened by poetry; however, it should be the antithesis of this. What people will find is that contemporary poetry will speak to their politics, sports teams, religion, loves and passions, all aspects of life,” he said.
While the reading series was designed to supplement the creative writing undergraduate program, it is open to all students, faculty, staff and community members wanting to enrich their reading and writing experience.
“As part of the creative writing initiative to bring creative writing and the arts to the entire Waleska community, I have developed the reading series as a way to bring people from all walks of life to the Reinhardt campus to enjoy an evening of poetry,” said Walsh.
Students, faculty, staff and friends of Reinhardt University are welcome to attend these free events.
