Extraordinary voices. Words that imagine and transform worlds. Learn about our two visiting writers & poets series
The Claire Gilbert Marty Visiting Writers Series was established in 2017 in honor of the late Claire Gilbert Marty, a St. Olaf alumna who exhibited a passion for literature and how the intricacies of human relationships could be illuminated through the literary arts. The Visiting Writers Series established in her memory seek to both honor her character, faith, and intellect, and to enrich the St. Olaf community by inviting writers whose work complements Claire’s fascination with the complexities of life and appreciation for wit and humor.
We expect to host the next Claire Gilbert Marty Visiting Writer in the spring of 2026.
Distinguished Writers
2017: Ramona Ausubel
2019: Jamel Brinkley
2022: Marilyn Nelson
2024: Rebecca Makkai
The Marilyn Nelson Visiting Poet Series celebrates the work of poets who embody the legacy of distinguished writer–and former St. Olaf professor–Marilyn Nelson.
A three-time finalist for the National Book Award, Nelson is the author or translator of more than 20 books and chapbooks for adults and children. Her long list of honors include the Annisfield-Wolf Award, the Poets’ Prize, the PEN Winship Award, the Lenore Marshall Prize, the Frost Medal, the Poetry Society of America’s award for “distinguished lifetime achievement in poetry,” and fellowships from Fulbright, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Homeplace, Nelson’s award-winning collection of poems, detailed the history of her family, including her father’s years as one of the Tuskegee Airmen, the celebrated group of Black aviators who fought during World War II.
While at St. Olaf early in her career, Nelson designed and taught the college’s first creative writing workshops.