Springfield College William Simpson Fine Arts Series Presents Poet Aracelis Girmay

American poet, writer, and educator Aracelis Girmay read from her published works at Springfield College on Thursday, April 2, in the Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room in the Flynn Campus Union. The event was free and open to the public, and was part of the 2015 William Simpson Fine Arts Series at Springfield College. 

Girmay is known for poems that explore her Eritrean, Puerto Rican, and African-American heritage.  She is the author of two poetry collections, including Kingdon Animalia, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, which is given out annually to honor the best literature published in the United States in six categories—autobiography, biography, criticism, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Girmay also is the author of the collage-based picture book, Changing, Changing, and the poetry collection Teeth, for which she was awarded a Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award. Girmay has taught youth poetry workshops with Community~Word and DreamYard for the past 10 years.

Founded in 1885, Springfield College is known worldwide for the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy—educating students in spirit, mind and body for leadership in service to others. With its foundation of academic excellence and rich athletic heritage, Springfield College prepares students with real-world leadership skills for careers that transform lives and communities. The college offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of health sciences, human and social services, sport management and movement studies, education, business, and the arts and sciences. It also offers doctoral programs in physical education, physical therapy, and counseling psychology. The college is ranked in the 2015 edition of “Best Colleges” in the top tier of “Best Regional Universities – North Region” by U.S.News and World Report, and is designated as a premier Leadership Development Center by the YMCA of the USA. More than 5,000 traditional, nontraditional and international students study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its School of Human Services campuses across the country.