A. Van Jordan

In celebration of Black History Month, UNC Asheville will host a reading by noted African American poet A. Van Jordan at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, in UNC Asheville’s Laurel Forum. The event is free and open to the public.

Jordan, a native of Ohio, received his master’s degree from the Warren Wilson College Program for Writers. His first book, “Rise,” won the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award and was a selection of the Academy of American Poets book club. His second book, “M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A,” imagines the life of MacNolia Cox, who in 1936, became the first African American student to advance to the National Spelling Bee finals. Jordan has received a number of awards, including the 2006 Pushcart Prize and the 2004 Whiting Writers Award, which is given to emerging writers of exceptional talent and promise.

This event is sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Creative Writing Program, Cultural & Special Events, and Multicultural Student Programs.

For more information, call Richard Chess, UNC Asheville literature and language professor, at 828/251-6576.