‘MTSU On the Record’ guest brings poetry, society together through fellowship

An MTSU professor who will use her national fellowship money to bring poetry to the masses was the guest on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Amie Whittemore

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Amie Whittemore, a lecturer in the Department of English, first aired July 7 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. You can hear their conversation above.

Whittemore is one of 23 poets nationwide to win a $50,000 fellowship from the Academy of American Poets and the only one in Tennessee to be so honored.

She will put the money to use by conducting a series of writing workshops, open mics and school visits with two nonprofit organizations, The Porch and Southern Word, for LGBTQ+ youth in Murfreesboro.

Whittemore also will support Poetry in the ’Boro, a series of readings and open mics featuring local and regional authors.

“I think poetry is really accessible, and I think it is also musical,” Whittemore said.

“It uses language very specifically, concretely, to convey matters of the heart and soul and mind. I think that’s why we turn to it in these difficult times.”

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.