Award-Winning Poet to Speak at WT for Distinguished Lecture and Patterson Poetry Series

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UPDATE: The reading has been postponed. A new date will be announced as soon as possible. 

CANYON, Texas — A prolific poet whose work explores both heartbreak and life’s triumphs will read his work at West Texas A&M University as a part of the Distinguished Lecture Series and the Dorothy Patterson Poetry Series.

Dr. Chad Abushanab will read his poetry at 6 p.m. Nov. 1 in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT’s Canyon campus.

Abushanab’s work has appeared in such publications as New York Times Magazine and the annual anthology “Best New Poets.”

“Chad’s poems bring joy and sadness, the intricate emotional turbulence of the heart, as well as many miracles that make life rich and fulfilling,” said Dr. Eric Meljac, WT associate professor of English and director of creative writing. “I knew nearly instantly that Chad’s work would resonate with the students and the community, and I had to ask him to be our poet.”

The event is sponsored by Dorothy and Don Patterson; the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities; the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages; and the Guest Artist Series.

The event is free and open to the public. Following the event, Abushanab will sign and sell books at a reception outside of Legacy Hall.

“I want people to leave with a desire to read more poems. The world of poetry is so diverse, so rich with life, but I worry a lot of people don't realize just how much is out there,” said Abushanab, an assistant professor of English at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota. “If this event can motivate students to seek out more poems, I will be absolutely ecstatic.”

Abushanab is the winner of the 2018 Donald Justice Poetry Prize. His first poetry collection was published by Autumn House Press in 2019. Abushanab earned his Ph.D. in literature and creative writing from Texas Tech University.

Offering students educational, insightful, and intuitive opportunities outside of the classroom is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which achieved its initial target of $125 million 18 months after launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; to date, it has raised more than $150 million.

About WT’s Distinguished Lecture Series

The Distinguished Lecture Series was created to enhance education in the classroom by inviting people of national prominence to speak to WT students and the community about important issues. For information, visit wtamu.edu/academics/distinguished-lecture-series.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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