STU English Department Hosts Second Annual Poetry Festival Celebrating Creativity and Community
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – April 2025 – The St. Thomas University (STU) English Department proudly hosted its Second Annual International Poetry Festival, a vibrant, multifaceted celebration of poetry, culture, and community. This year’s event highlighted voices from Chicago, Canada, the Dominican Republic/Caribbean, and beyond bringing a global spirit to our local campus.
The festival emphasized collaboration and connection across departments, partnering with Professor Jodi Grace’s Multicultural Psychology class and STU’s very own arts and culture magazine, Eye of the Bobcat, to bring the event to life.
Held right outside of Mimi Dooner Hall, the festival featured an inspiring lineup of poetry “stations,” live performances, open mics, and a pop-up poetry workshop that challenged students to write a poem. The festival also featured guest poets:
- Gregg Shapiro, acclaimed Chicago poet and Poetry Hall of Famer
- Cara Nusinov, founder of Laughter and Poetry Therapy Practice
- Linda Pauwels, haiku master and commercial airline pilot
Students participated in a poetic Easter Egg hunt, which culminated in the hunt for the “Golden Egg” and a small prize. The student-run concession stand, managed by Eye of the Bobcat Nadine Olmande-Mentor and Adam Perez-Pinon, provided refreshments and served as a central point for attendees to gather and connect.
This year’s event was a collaborative effort, made possible by the support and dedication of faculty, students, and campus leaders. Professor Jodi Grace and her Multicultural Psychology students, Professor Melissa Beneche and the STU English Department, and Kelly Wolfe played key roles in organizing and guiding the program. The Eye of the Bobcat team also contributed significantly, handling event logistics and operations with skill and professionalism.
Many of the festival volunteers and organizers were interns from Professor Pastor’s poetry and professional writing internship (ENG 497). This course was designed to give students real-world experience in the literary arts. These students were hands-on in every step of the process, from planning to promotion. Track Student, Isenydine Agenor, was also a big help throughout the festival.
The STU Poetry Festival is quickly becoming a beloved tradition, with this year receiving great turn out with over 200 attendees.
