Joseph Bathanti, an award-winning poet, professor and advocate for literacy, will visit North Carolina A&T State University for workshops and a reading on Wednesday, April 3.

His schedule will include meetings with faculty and students, a writing program for N.C. A&T students interested in poetry and spoken word, and a reading at 7 p.m., followed by light refreshments and a book signing. The reading, which is open to the public, will be in the auditorium of the Academic Classroom Building, room 101.

Bathanti was named North Carolina’s Poet Laureate in 2012 by then-Gov. Bev Perdue, who noted his “robust commitment to social causes.” He first came to North Carolina to work in the VISTA program and has taught writing workshops in prisons for 35 years.

North Carolina’s seventh poet laureate, Bathanti is a professor of creative writing at Appalachian State University, where he is also director of writing in the field and writer-in-residence in the university's Watauga Global Community.

He is the author of several books of poetry, including “This Metal” (St. Andrews College Press, 1996 and Press 53, 2012); two novels, “Coventry” (Novello Festival Press, 2006) and “East Liberty” (Banks Channel Books, 2001); along with a book of short stories, “The High Heart” (Eastern Washington University Press, 2007).

Bathanti’s special visit during National Poetry Month is sponsored by A&T’s Honors Program, Department of English and Creative Writing, Center for Academic Success and F.D. Bluford Library.