Contact us 1.800.698.2536
Search by Speaker Name or Topic

Rita Dove

Speaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker Rating
5 out of 5
2 reviews

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet, Former Poet Laureate to the Library of Congress & Henry Hoyns Professor of Creative Writing

Rita Dove
Travels From Travels From:
Charlottesville, VA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000
Virtual Event: $10,000 - $20,000
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Authors, Black Heritage, Black History Month, College, Commencement, Culture, Disruptive Thinking, Diversity & Inclusion, Influential Women, Inspirational, Journalism, Literary, Motivational, Poetry, Social Activism, Thought Leadership, Women, Women's History Month
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Rita Dove Biography

Rita Dove was born in Akron, Ohio, on August 28, 1952. A poet and writer, she was a high school Presidential Scholar and graduated with a BA in English from Miami University of Ohio in 1973. She then studied German poetry as a Fulbright Scholar at Universität Tübingen before getting an MFA in creative writing from the University of Iowa.

Dove’s books of poetry include Playlist for the Apocalypse (W. W. Norton, 2021); Collected Poems 1974–2004 (W.W. Norton, 2016), recipient of the 2017 NAACP Image Award, the 2017 Library of Virginia Award and a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award; Sonata Mulattica (W. W. Norton, 2009), winner of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award; On the Bus with Rosa Parks (W. W. Norton, 1999), named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; and Thomas and Beulah (Carnegie-Mellon University Press, 1986), which won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

In addition to poetry, Dove has published a book of short stories, the novel Through the Ivory Gate (Pantheon, 1992), and numerous essays. She also edited Best American Poetry (Scribner, 2000), compiled The Penguin Anthology of Twentieth-Century American Poetry (Penguin, 2011), and edited the New York Times Magazine’s weekly poetry column from 2018–19, as well as, in 2000 and 2002, the Washington Post’s weekly “Poet’s Choice” column.

Dove’s work traverses a wide range of landscapes, applying an unflinching eye upon historical and political events. Dove’s many other honors include the 1996 Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities, the 2003 Emily Couric Leadership Award, the 2006 Commonwealth Award, the 2007 Chubb Fellowship at Yale University, the 2008 Library of Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2009 Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal, the 2009 International Capri Award, and the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University, the 2017 Callaloo Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2019 North Star Award from the Hurston/Wright Foundation, as well as twenty-eight honorary doctorates, among them from Yale University in 2014 and Harvard University in 2018. She is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. President Bill Clinton bestowed upon her the 1996 National Humanities Medal, and President Barack Obama presented her with the 2011 National Medal of Arts, making her the only poet who has received both medals. She served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 2005 to 2011. In 2019, Dove received the Wallace Stevens Award, given annually by the Academy of American Poets to recognize outstanding and proven mastery in the art of poetry. In 2022, she won the Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also been awarded the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the organization’s lifetime achievement award.

Dove served as poet laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995, and as poet laureate of Virginia from 2004 to 2006. She is a trained classical cellist and violist da gamba. She currently serves as the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ vice president for literature and the Henry Hoyns Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Virginia, where she has been teaching since 1989.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Rita Dove and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK Rita Dove

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/04/2024.

Rita Dove Videos

  • Rita Dove's 'Playlist for the Apocalypse' is her plea for unity
    Rita Dove's 'Playlist for the Apocalypse' is her plea for unity
    Jeffrey Brown has the story of prominent poet Rita Dove confronting private pains and public strains; home and history. This report on her book,...
  • Rita Dove Recites Her Poem Bellringer at UVA's Bicentennial Celebration
    Rita Dove Recites Her Poem "Bellringer" at UVA's Bicentennial Celebration
    UVA’s Commonwealth Professor of English and former U.S. poet laureate Rita Dove recites her poem, “Bellringer,” at the University’s...
  • The Denham Sutcliffe Memorial Lecture: An Evening with Rita Dove
    The Denham Sutcliffe Memorial Lecture: An Evening with Rita Dove
    Rita Dove is the winner of the 2018 Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement. Winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize and poet laureate of the United...
See All Videos »

Rita Dove Books

  • Sonata Mulattica: Poems
    Sonata Mulattica: Poems
  • The Darker Face Of Earth: A Verse Play
    The Darker Face Of Earth: A Verse Play
  • Selected Poems Of Rita Dove
    Selected Poems Of Rita Dove
  • Through The Ivory Gate
    Through The Ivory Gate

Speaker Lists Featuring Rita Dove

Browse All Keynote Speaker Lists »

FAQs on booking Rita Dove

  • How do I book Rita Dove to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Rita Dove for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Rita Dove, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Rita Dove or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Rita Dove

    Speaking fees for Rita Dove, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Rita Dove are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Rita Dove, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Rita Dove speak about?

    Rita Dove is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Black Heritage, Black History Month, College, Commencement, Culture, Disruptive Thinking, Diversity & Inclusion, Influential Women, Inspirational, Journalism, Literary, Motivational, Poetry, Social Activism, Thought Leadership, Women, Women's History Month.

  • Where does Rita Dove travel from?

    Rita Dove generally travels from Charlottesville, VA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Rita Dove’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Rita Dove for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Rita Dove for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Rita Dove or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Rita Dove is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Rita Dove for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Rita Dove generally travels from Charlottesville, VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ijeoma Oluo, Charlene Carruthers, Staceyann Chin, Dr. Bernice King and Erin Gruwell. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Rita Dove for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Rita Dove

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

Sarah Miller
phone   1.800.698.2536
Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Rita Dove or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP