On Monday, October 9, renowned poet and essayist Ross Gay will deliver the Fall 2023 Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture in Public Affairs and Arts and in partnership with the Race & Pedagogy Institute. Prof. Gay’s collections of poetry have garnered the PEN American Literary Jean Stein Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and his collected essays The Book of Delights was a New York Times bestseller. His newest collection, The Book of (More) Delights was released in September of 2023.

Following Prof. Gay's reading will be a book signing in the Pierce Atrium, Wyatt Hall from 8:30-9 p.m.

Tickets: At the artist’s request, this reading is free of charge for all. No-cost tickets are available online and at the Logger Store in Wheelock Student Center.

About the Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture: Established in 2002 in honor of President Emerita Susan Resneck Pierce, this lecture series brings intellectuals, writers, and artists of high recognition in public affairs and the arts to Puget Sound. Many thanks to the Pierce Lectures in the Arts and Public Affairs Advisory Group — faculty members Lea Fortmann, Jairo Hoyos Galvis, Lisa Johnson, Priti Joshi, Sam Liao, Janet Marcavage, and Renee Simms — for their thoughtful work in selecting engaging speakers to enrich our campus community.