“It’s among Tayari’s many gifts that she can touch us soul to soul with her words.” – Oprah Winfrey
Photo by Tyson Alan Horne
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Sept. 12, 2024) – Prairie View A&M University proudly announces that New York Times bestselling author Tayari Jones will serve as the 2024-2025 Toni Morrison Writer-in-Residence. Jones will offer master classes, critiques of students’ work, and a public reading and lecture, providing a unique opportunity for both budding and established writers to learn from one of today’s most compelling literary voices.
Known for her ability to weave together stories that explore social justice, human relationships, and the complexities of the New South, Jones has established herself as a prominent figure in contemporary literature. Her novel “An American Marriage” was not only a New York Times bestseller but also an Oprah’s Book Club Selection. It received numerous accolades, including the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Fiction.
As PVAMU’s Writer-in-Residence, Jones will build upon the legacy of past writers-in-residence, Nikki Giovanni, Kevin Powell and Attica Locke.
“Each of the Toni Morrison Writing Program’s writers-in-residence has been unique and has had a lasting impact on students, as well as faculty, staff and campus visitors who were privileged to hear the public presentations of the writers,” said Dr. Emma Joahanne Thomas-Smith, provost emerita, who oversees the Toni Morrison Writing Program at PVAMU. “The inaugural writer, Nikki Giovanni, reached students through humor and unabashed sharing of her none airbrushed poetry. Kevin Powell seemingly made magic when translating hip-hop culture into messages of hope and promise for a new generation. Attica Locke’s seamless movement from fiction writer to film writer-producer inspired young writers.
“The 2024-2025 TMWP writer-in-residence Tayari Jones has a unique gift of weaving together layers of stories about relationships, education, requited and unrequited love, entrepreneurship and other weighty contemporary topics,” Dr. Thomas-Smith continued. “Her teaching is sure to elevate the already high level of creativity evident among our students. We are excited to see how her insights and teachings will shape this next generation of writers.”
Jones’s residency will feature three master classes, beginning with the first session on Sept. 19, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. The hybrid event will be available via Zoom and in-person, offering students a valuable opportunity to hone their craft, receive personalized feedback, and explore the intricacies of the publishing world. Jones’s residency will continue through February 2025, with additional master classes scheduled for Oct. 10, 2024, and Feb. 13, 2025.
Established in 2021 through a generous gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, PVAMU’s Toni Morrison Writing Program is committed to fostering creative expression and honing in on students’ skills as they learn to “craft the unique characteristics of various literary genres, comprehend the expectations of the publishing process and benefit from the resources available in a competitive yet supportive writers’ world.” Under the leadership of Provost Emerita Thomas-Smith, the program includes an outreach component that partners with area schools and collaborates with the Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice.
Jones is a graduate of Spelman College (where she also received an Honorary Degree in 2023), the University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. She is currently a Charles Howard Candler Professor at Emory University and A.D. White Professor At Large at Cornell University.
Applications for PVAMU’s master classes are due by Sept. 13 at 5 p.m., with notifications sent by Sept. 16.
Learn more here.
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