Yale Scholar to Recite Poem at Obama’s Inauguration

Elizabeth Alexander, professor of African-American studies at Yale University, has been selected to present a poem at the inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States.

Alexander, who will become chair of the African-American studies department at Yale this coming July, is the author of four books of poetry. Her 2005 collection, American Sublime, was one of three finalists for the Pulitzer Prize.

Alexander is a graduate of Yale University. She holds a master’s degree from Boston University and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

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