Poet Nikki Giovanni to appear at Longwood

Nikki Giovanni, one of America's most widely-read poets, will share her poetry and stories Wednesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in Longwood University's Dorrill Dining Hall (the Lee Grand Dining Room).

Giovanni, who has been called the "Princess of Black Poetry," is the author of 30 books for both adults and children, including volumes of poetry, illustrated children's books, and collections of essays. Her autobiography, Gemini, was a finalist for the National Book Award, and Blues: For All The Changes, reached #4 on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list, a rare achievement for a book of poems. She has taught since 1987 at Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor.

Her honors include 25 honorary degrees, being named Woman of the Year by three magazines, the first Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award, the keys to more than two dozen cities, and having a newly discovered species of bat named for her. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2004 for "The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection."

The event, free and open to the public, is sponsored by Lancer Productions, the Black Student Association, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.