Bathanti Named NC Poet Laureate

Joseph Bathanti (poetry, ’91) was recently named North Carolina’s Poet Laureate by Governor Bev Perdue.

Joseph Bathanti is an award-winning poet and novelist with a robust commitment to social causes. He first came to North Carolina to work in the VISTA program and has taught writing workshops in prisons for 35 years,” Perdue said. “As North Carolina’s new Poet Laureate he plans to work with veterans to share their stories through poetry — a valuable and generous project.

Joseph is the author of Land of Amnesia (2009, Press 53) and This Metal(2012, Press 53).