Spring 2025 University Forum Series Begins Feb. 11

Wed, 01/29/2025 - 10:15am | By: Dr. David Tisdale

University Forum–now in its 50th year at The University of Southern Mississippi–will kick off its spring series with Ada Limón, the first Latina Poet Laureate of the United States. Her presentation, in partnership with the Southern Miss Center for Writers, is set for Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus. 

University Forum is presented by the Southern Miss Honors College, with generous support from the Office of the President. Admission is free and open to the public.

A native of Sonoma, Calif., who grew up in a rural setting, Limón’s poems explore themes of identity, nature and the human experience. Her work has been praised for its lyrical beauty, emotional depth and keen observations of the natural world.

Limón has published several poetry collections, including Bright Dead Things, a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. An acclaimed educator, she has taught poetry at various universities and for multiple writing programs. As part of her tenure as the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, Limón’s “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa” was engraved on NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft that launched to study Jupiter and its moons in October 2024.

“We’re absolutely honored to have Ada Limón, one of our nation’s most celebrated poets, present to us for University Forum,” said Center for Writers Director Dr. Olivia Clare Friedman. “Several years ago, she visited the university, and our students were talking about her reading for weeks. I'm sure this time will be no exception.”

Learn more about University Forum at About University Forum | Honors College | The University of Southern Mississippi.