SHU Professor Chosen as Bethel’s Poet Laureate

SHU students may be involved in the effort to promote poetry in town

Richard Magee, Sacred Heart University professor of languages & literature, has been appointed the second poet laureate in the town of Bethel.

Magee applied for the post of honorary poet laureate in response to a competition the town sponsored. He submitted a letter of interest, along with three of his poems. Applicants also had to include ideas and methods for boosting poetry engagement in the town. The committee narrowed its selection to three finalists, interviewed each individually and chose Magee.

This three-year appointment requires Magee to expand the community’s knowledge and exposure to poetry, and to compose poems for special events when requested. However, Magee has another goal as well. “I'd like to use my position not just to promote poetry in Bethel, but also to give SHU students a chance to expand their poetic horizons,” Magee said.

He would like to bring poets into the schools to work with students. His plans also include working with local businesses to create a poetry scavenger hunt in town where participants post a photo of a found poem to social media with the hashtag #BethelPoetry. Magee said he aims to involve SHU students in the poetry events in Bethel, such as workshops in the schools or readings in town.

“So much of my teaching is all about trying to demystify poetry and showing students how to appreciate it, so I am looking forward to expanding this into my community outside the classroom,” Magee said.