Chosen by a panel of literary experts, Ruby Mendenhall will be Urbana’s 4th Poet Laureate. In addition to being a poet, Mendenhall is a professor of Sociology, African American Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Gender and Women’s Studies and Social Work at the University of Illinois and the Associate Dean for Diversity and Democratization of Health Innovation at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. She’s done quite a bit of work in the community to promote wellness, particularly for Black women and youth.
As Poet Laureate, she will receive a $2000 honorarium.
There will be a celebration for her at Gallery Art Bar on March 15th from 6 to 8 p.m., which is open to the public.