Lone Star College-Montgomery and the Montgomery County Literary Art Council’s Writers in Performance series welcomes three state poet laureates for a panel discussion and reading on Thursday, April 16. The panel discussion begins at 5:30 p.m. in the General Academic Center (building G),room 102, at LSC-Montgomery, with the reading following at 7 p.m., also in room G-102.  All events are free and open to the public.

 Lone Star College-Tomball English professor and poet Melissa Studdard will conduct panel interviews on the “States of Poetry: 3 State Poet Laureates Views on Poetry in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas,” comparing the difference in positions between the three states, the publishing opportunities for poets, poetry demographics, the Poet Laureate experience, and the future of poetry. The session will end with questions, answers and readings.

Panelists include:

LSU Press Poet and 2015 Louisiana Poet Laureate Ana Leavell Haymon. Haymon is the author of several poetry collections including “Why the House Is Made of Gingerbread” and “Eldest Daughter,” teaches poetry writing in Baton Rouge, and directs a writer’s retreat in New Mexico.  

2014 Oklahoma Poet Laureate Nathan Brown. As a singer, songwriter, photographer, and poet, Brown has published nine books, written and performed music in numerous venues, and teaches at the University of Oklahoma and Austin Community College.

2011 Texas Poet Laureate and LSC-Montgomery English professor Dave Parsons. Parsons holds several recognitions including a national endowment, a publisher’s prize, and eight writing awards from Lone Star College. Parsons was inducted into The Texas Institute of Letters and has published five books of poetry.

Writers in Performance is a reading program dedicated to bringing the most distinguished minds and their bright visions to the citizens of Montgomery County through thought-provoking literature and cultural diversity. The series’ events are made possible by the partnerships between Lone Star College-Montgomery, SWIRL Literary & Arts Journal, the Conroe Commission on Arts & Culture, the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance, and the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council.

For more information, visit www.literaryartscouncil.org; or contact Dave Parsons at (936) 524-6537 or david.m.parsons@lonestar.edu.

Lone Star College-Montgomery and the Montgomery County Literary Art Council’s Writers in Performance series welcomes state poet laureates Ana Leavell Haymon, Nathan Brown and Dave Parsons for a panel discussion and reading on Thursday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the General Academic Center (building G), room 102, at LSC-Montgomery, with the reading following at 7 p.m.

LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
 
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion.  Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community college systems in the nation.  Dr. Steve Head is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.