Elizabeth Alexander

Renowned Poet Known For Inauguration Poem "Praise Song for the Day"

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Elizabeth Alexander Biography

Elizabeth Alexander is a prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author, renowned poet, educator, scholar, and cultural advocate. She is also president of the Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest funder in the arts, culture, and humanities.

Dr. Alexander’s book, "The Trayvon Generation," is a galvanizing meditation on the power of art and culture to illuminate America’s unresolved problem with race and the challenges facing young Black Americans. Among the fifteen books she has authored or co-authored, her poetry collection "American Sublime" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 2006, and her memoir, "The Light of the World," was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography and the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2015. Other works include Crave Radiance: "New and Selected Poems 1990–2010," "Power and Possibility: Essays, Reviews, Interviews," "The Black Interior: Essays," "Antebellum Dream Book," "Body of Life," and "The Venus Hottentot."

Over the course of an esteemed career in education, Dr. Alexander has held distinguished professorships at Smith College, Columbia University, and Yale University, where she taught for fifteen years and chaired the African American Studies Department. She has been awarded the Jackson Poetry Prize, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, the George Kent Award, the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and three Pushcart Prizes for Poetry. Notably, Dr. Alexander composed and delivered “Praise Song for the Day” for the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Dr. Alexander is Chancellor Emeritus of the Academy of American Poets, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, serves on the Pulitzer Prize Board, and co-designed the Art for Justice Fund.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/06/2024.

Elizabeth Alexander Videos

  • Elizabeth Alexander
    Elizabeth Alexander is a luminary: a poet who has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, a scholar, a tireless leader in the field of racial...
  • The privilege of perspective ft. Elizabeth Alexander
    Elizabeth Alexander, poet, cultural advocate, president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, on art, activism, and acknowledging adversity. “In...
  • Creative process: Are you in a period of ‘woodshedding’?
    Creative types can feel an overwhelming sense of pressure to be prolific, especially in times like these when, in theory, free time is abundant....

Elizabeth Alexander Books

  • Ficre Ghebreyesus: City With A River Running Through
    Ficre Ghebreyesus: City With A River Running Through
  • Crave Radiance: New And Selected Poems 1990-2010
    Crave Radiance: New And Selected Poems 1990-2010
  • Praise Song For The Day: A Poem For Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration January 20, 2009
    Praise Song For The Day: A Poem For Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration January 20, 2009
  • Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color
    Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color
  • The Venus Hottentot: Poems
    The Venus Hottentot: Poems

Speaker Lists Featuring Elizabeth Alexander

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  • What topics does Elizabeth Alexander speak about?

    Elizabeth Alexander is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Creativity, Disruptive Thinking, Diversity & Inclusion, Education, Inspirational, Journalism, Literary, Poetry, Political, Television & Film, Thought Leadership.
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Elizabeth Alexander is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Elizabeth Alexander for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Elizabeth Alexander generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Anna Deavere Smith, Tonya Lewis Lee, Sonia Nazario, Temple Grandin and Nikki Giovanni. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Elizabeth Alexander for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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