University to host celebrated poet William Woolfitt, April 3

^{Dr. William Woolfitt}

(March 27, 2017) –Carson-Newman University’s Appalachian Cultural Center will present a program by poet Dr. William Woolfitt April 3 at 4 p.m.

An assistant professor of English at Lee University, Woolfitt is the author of three poetry collections. He is the recipient of the Plattner Award in fiction from Appalachian Heritage, first place in the Epiphany Editions fiction chapbook contest, three Pushcart poem nominations and the Howard Nemerov Scholarship at the Sewanee Writer Conference.

“Will Woolfitt’s voice and skill show incredible range,” said Dr. Susan O’Dell Underwood, Carson-Newman professor of English. “In ‘Beauty Strip’ he writes about environmental devastation and the resilience of the people of a damaged but beautiful Appalachia. His second book, ‘Charles of the Desert: A Life in Verse’, is told from the voice of the monk, a pilgrim who journeyed and sought spiritual answers in the Middle East and North Africa.”

Woolfitt’s poems, short stories and essays have appeared in a number of publications including Blackbird, Image, African American Review, Tin House and others.

This program is free and open to the public. The Appalachian Cultural Center is open Mondays and Wednesdays from Noon–3p.m, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. The Center is located on Russell Ave. on Carson-Newman’s campus.

Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The University has over 2,600 students and offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.