University News | June 7, 2012

Radcliffe fellow Trethewey named poet laureate

Natasha Trethewey was a 2001 Radcliffe Institute Fellow.

Natasha Trethewey, a 2001 Radcliffe Institute Fellow, has been named poet laureate of the United States. According to the announcement from the Library of Congress, quoting James H. Billington, the current Librarian of Congress,

Natasha Trethewey is an outstanding poet/historian in the mold of Robert Penn Warren, our first Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Her poems dig beneath the surface of history—personal or communal, from childhood or from a century ago—to explore the human struggles that we all face.

Read an appreciation of her work from The New York Times. Trethewey won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for her third collection, Native Guard.

You might also like

Students holding protest signs advocating for support and safe work conditions.

Harvard Academic Workers Begin Strike

A second union joined graduate students on the picket line, emptying labs and classrooms.

Crowd of picketers holding signs advocating for fair pay on a sunny day.

Cancellations, Disruptions as Harvard Graduate Student Strike Enters Second Week

Some faculty complain about the protests’ effect on students.

Historic brick building with a tall, ornate tower against a clear blue sky.

As Union Protests Continue, Stephen Colbert and Yo-Yo Ma Event at Harvard Cut Short

A conversation between the comedian and the celebrated cellist was interrupted by a fire alarm in Sanders Theatre.

Most popular

Two mounted pheasants displayed on a stand against a gray background.

Lafayette’s Unexpected Gift to George Washington: Pheasants

The two birds will be on display at Harvard this summer.

Drawing of a distant solitary figure walking alone toward the horizon along a narrowing path of light edged on both sides by darkness

The Loneliness Pandemic

As the country isolates, are we all alone?

White House and Harvard University buildings split diagonally with contrasting colors.

Harvard Weathers a Year of Turmoil

The federal government has launched unprecedented actions against the University. Here’s a guide.

Explore More From Current Issue

Illustration of a phone, book, hourglass, weights, and a hand reaching for a device on a blue background.

Letters to the Editor

Your thoughts on how to regulate the platforms—and stop using them so much

Colorful illustration of a split-level house showing various activities in different rooms.

Undergraduate Column

Can the College do more to prepare students for the real world?

St. Peter's Basilica at sunset, illuminated by purple and orange sky reflections in the river.

Alumni

For advocacy and benevolence, three late alumni are reportedly in line for the Catholic Church’s highest honor.