Nisly Endowment / Poets and Writers Series

The Paul W. Nisly Endowment, a tribute to the legacy of the English Department's long-time member and chair, was created to promote further understanding of the writing and study of literature as a form of Christian vocation. It especially promotes activities that encourage inquiry into how this vocation is related to the task of peacemaking, the quest for social justice, and the work of reconciliation of human beings to one another and to God. One series of events the Nisly Endowment sponsors is the Poets & Writers Series, which is devoted to bringing important and nationally recognized authors to campus for readings, class visits, and workshops. Visiting writers have included such luminaries as Marilyn Nelson, Juan Martinez, Amy Tan, Robert Pinsky, Li-Young Lee, Jennifer Egan, and many others.