Ada Limón is the 24^th Poet Laureate of the United States and the first Latina to receive the honor. Her poems explore themes of identity, nature and the human experience. Born in 1976 in Sonoma, California, Limón grew up in a rural setting, and her work has been praised for its lyrical beauty, emotional depth and keen observations of the natural world.

She has published several poetry collections, including Bright Dead Things, a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is a highly respected teacher and has taught poetry at various universities and writing programs. University Forum is proud to partner with The University of Southern Mississippi’s Center for Writers to bring Ada Limon to Southern Miss to talk about the role of poetry in our lives.