STU Hosts Third Annual International Poetry Festival
By Zoraida Pastor
Miami Gardens, FL — On April 15, St. Thomas University’s English Department hosted its Third Annual STU International Poetry Festival, welcoming students, faculty, and guest poets for an afternoon of creativity, community, and the power of poetry.
What began as an outdoor gathering in its early years has evolved into a dynamic campus tradition. This year marked an important milestone as the festival moved indoors, expanding its reach and creating a more immersive experience for attendees. The shift reflects the festival’s continued growth in both scale and vision, embracing diverse poetic voices and forms from across cultures. Its commitment to inclusivity was reflected in the international décor, which encouraged a sense of travel, connection, and global awareness.
The event opened with remarks from the university’s provost, Dr. Michelle Johnson Barnes, who welcomed attendees and emphasized poetry’s role in connecting communities across languages, histories, and lived experiences.
Featured poets included Gregg Shapiro and Gregory Colodny, who shared their latest work, discussed their creative processes, and offered insight into careers in writing. The festival also welcomed guest poet Jim Anderson, the provost’s mentor, whose presence added a meaningful personal and academic connection to the event.
Throughout the afternoon, poets engaged directly with students by sharing their work, discussing their journeys, and encouraging students to take part in open mic readings. Their presence helped bridge classroom learning with real-world literary practice.
The festival also provided students with valuable hands-on experience in event planning, professional communication, and creative collaboration. Building on this success, the festival’s agenda has grown to include internship opportunities where students develop employable skills while working closely with participants and organizers.
A standout highlight was the participation of students from Professor Jodi Grace’s Multicultural Psychology course. These student presenters transformed poetry into an immersive experience by researching, embodying, and presenting the work of influential poets. Their presentations focused on emerging poet Javier Zamora, whose work in immigrant literature continues to gain national attention, as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rita Dove. Students enhanced the international theme by dressing as airline pilots, adding a creative and engaging layer that resonated with attendees.
Student presenter and Eye of the Bobcat President Jonathan Sherman reflected on the experience, noting that the project deepened his understanding of the festival’s purpose and the power of poetry to highlight shared human experiences.
Providing invaluable support for the third year in a row were the students of Eye of the Bobcat, St. Thomas University’s Arts and Culture Magazine, along with students from Professor Pastor’s literature classes. “This festival was made possible by my army of students, support from administration, and the belief that poetry is meant to be shared as a global language,” said Professor Zoraida Pastor.
“The Poetry Festival brought the campus together in a powerful celebration of creative expression. The energy and engagement made the event truly special,” said Professor Brandi Troupe, whose communications students also livestreamed the event, expanding its reach to a wider audience.
Now in its third year, the STU International Poetry Festival continues to grow as a signature university event, reinforcing the idea that poetry is not just an art form but a global language that invites participation, reflection, and connection.
For more information about the festival and future events, please visit:
https://www.stu.edu/news/stu-english-department-hosts-second-annual-poetry-festival-celebrating-creativity-and-community/
Media Contact:
Professor Zoraida Pastor
English Department, St. Thomas University
[email protected].