Pennsylvania’s first state poet, Sam Hazo, will hold a poetry reading at 7 p.m. Monday, March 26 in the Sawhill-Georgian Room of Thiel College’s Howard Miller Student Center.

Hazo, named Pennsylvania’s first state poet in 1993 by Gov. Robert Casey, is the founder and director of the International Poetry Forum based in Pittsburgh.

Hazo has published books of poetry, fiction, essays and various works of translation, and plays. His most recent poetry books are A Flight to Elsewhere, Just Once, As They Sail, and The Holy Surprise of Right Now. He has also been a commentator on National Public Radio.

Hazo is currently the McAnulty Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Duquesne University. He received his B.A. from Notre Dame University, his M.A. from Duquesne, and his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He has received nine honoraries and has been awarded the Hazlett Award for Excellence in Literature from the Governor of Pennsylvania, the Forbes Medal, the Elizabeth Kray Award for Outstanding Service to Poetry from New York University, and the Griffin Award from the University of Notre Dame. His recent book, Just Once, received the Maurice English Poetry Prize.

Hazo will also serve as the keynote speaker for the Sigma Tau Delta induction ceremony at 4 p.m. Sunday and speak to classes during the day on Monday.

The poetry reading, sponsored by the college’s Artists and Lecturers Series, is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Dr. Mary Theresa Hall at 724-589-2154.