Ouachita alumnus Greg Brownderville returns for poetry reading Feb. 24
February 20, 2014 - Jessica Stewart
Ouachita Baptist University will host a poetry reading by Ouachita alumnus Greg Brownderville
on Monday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. in Young Auditorium. The poetry reading will follow
the Dinner for 20, an event hosted by the Ouachita Student Foundation.
Dr. Jeff Root, dean of School of Humanities and Dr. Doug Sonheim, chair of the department
of English and modern foreign languages, have been working together to bring Brownderville
to campus.
“Greg Brownderville has established himself as one of the best young poets in the
country,” Root said. “His insight into the lives and motivation of people is evident
in his poetry, often a poignant mix of humor and drama.”
Brownderville is a 1999 Ouachita graduate who also earned a Master of Fine Arts at
the University of Mississippi. He currently is an assistant professor in creative
writing at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Brownderville is best known for
his books of poetry titled Gust and Deep Down in the Delta. He has earned several poetry prizes including awards from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference,
the Missouri Review and the University of Nebraska.
At the poetry reading, Brownderville will read several poems while also sharing insight
and background information into the creative process behind each poem. “Many are set
in rural Arkansas,” Sonheim explained, “capturing the flavor and texture of life in
the South through image, story and dialogue.”
The Dinner for 20 event hosted by the Ouachita Student Foundation is an opportunity
for a select group of students to dialogue with the writer. It is designed to connect
current students with a noted alumnus from their department.
“It's great for current students to see the example of successful alumni,” said Ellen
Eubanks, a senior English major from Arkadelphia, Ark. “We get to hear how they got
to where they are now, which is encouraging for those of us still in school.”
The poetry reading is free and open to the public while the Dinner for 20 is an invitation-only
event. For more information, contact Dr. Doug Sonheim at [email protected] or (870) 245-5554.
By Jessica Stewart
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