Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor Emerita of English at Virginia Tech, passed away on December 9. She was 81 years old.
Professor Giovanni was a member of the Virginia Tech faculty from 1987 until her retirement in 2022. She was the author of numerous poetry collections, children’s books, and works of nonfiction. Throughout her long career as a writer and educator, she made significant contributions to poetry, African American literature, and the international Black community. Her most recent publication, A Library (Versify, 2022), recounts her weekly visits as a child to a segregated library near her home. Her latest book of poetry is set for publication next year.
In recognition of her outstanding body of work, Professor Giovanni received over 30 honorary degrees and eight NAACP Image Awards. She was previously named one of 25 living legends by Oprah Winfrey. She was a finalist for a Grammy award and the subject of the Emmy award-winning documentary, Going for Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. Last year, she was named the fifth recipient of Virginia Tech’s Ut Prosim Scholar Award.
“Nikki Giovanni was a treasure who lived out Ut Prosim in countless ways, using her literary gifts to motivate change, encourage critical thought, inspire us to dream, and provide comfort in times of sadness and grief,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “Her spirit endures through her words and the students she inspired to express themselves through writing and poetry. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her Hokie family.”
Professor Giovanni was a graduate of Fisk University, a historically Black educational institution in Nashville, Tennessee.
