Outside Southside: Natasha Trethewey Named U.S. Poet Laureate

From http://www.loc.gov/poetry/laureate.html.

Natasha Trethewey has been recognized with many titles over the past few years:

• Phillis Wheatley Distinguished Chair in Poetry at Emory University
• Member of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame
• 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry Recipient
• 2008 Georgia Woman of the Year
• 2010 Keynote Speaker at Hollins University's Commencement
• 2012 Louis D. Rubin Writer-in-Reisdence at Hollins University
• 2012 State Poet Laureate of Mississippi

If you do not know who Trethewey is, that is probably about to change. Earlier today, she was appointed 2012 Poet Laureate of the United States by the Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington.

Trethewey, a native of Mississippi and graduate of Hollins, has been noted as a gifted poet since her first collection, Domestic Work, was published in 2000. Since then, she has received numerous accolades for her works, which include Bellocq's Ophelia (2002), Native Guard (2007), Beyond Katrina (2010), and Thrall (expected Fall 2012).

Although Hollins is not quite Southside, it's exciting to have a Virginia connection. Congratulations, Poet Laureate Trethewey!