Sterling College will host Oklahoma’s current state Poet Laureate, Dr. Benjamin Myers, for a poetry reading at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Cornerstone in the Student Union.
“We are honored to have Dr. Myers here on campus for this special event. Dr. Myers continues to influence others through his intricate narrative poems that explore life in Oklahoma. He is a gifted teacher whose award-winning work will inspire both our students and the larger community,” said Aaron Brown, assistant professor of writing and editing.
Myers, who was born and raised in Oklahoma, is the Crouch-Mathis Professor of Literature at Oklahoma Baptist University. He is the author of two poetry books, “Lapse Americana” and “Elegy for Trains.” He is highly published, having appeared in “The Yale Review,” “Nimrod,” “32 Poems,” “Poetry Northwest” and several others. He also reviews works of contemporary poetry for many journals.
Myers earned his Ph.D. in English Literature at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to being named Poet Laureate, Myers has been honored with a Tennessee Williams Scholarship from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and with an Oklahoma Book Award for Poetry.
The event is made possible through financial support by the Craig A. Gannon Memorial Fund. Dr. Craig Gannon first taught at Central Christian College in McPherson, before accepting a position as professor of British literature at Sterling College. He remained at Sterling for 18 years and was named faculty emeritus of English upon his retirement.