Sofia M. Starnes is a writer of Philippine-Spanish heritage who has been an American citizen since 1989. She was born in Manila, where she was educated in the Institución Teresiana (Saint Pedro Poveda College), and subsequently moved to Spain, where she received an advanced degree in English Philology from the University of Madrid. She holds a degree in English Pedagogy from the Instituto de Idiomas in Madrid as well. In 2013, she received a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) degree from Union College, Kentucky. Sofia is the author of five poetry collections: The Soul's Landscape (Aldrich, 2002); A Commerce of Moments (Pavement Saw Press, 2003); Corpus Homini: A Poem for Single Flesh (Wings Press, 2008); Fully Into Ashes (Wings Press, 2011); and Love and the Afterlife (Franciscan University Press, 2012). Additionally, Sofia has edited an anthology titled Four Virginia Poets Laureate, 2004-2012: An Anthology and Reader's Guide (Cedar Creek Press, 2013).

She is the recipient of a Poetry Fellowship from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the 1997 Rainer Maria Rilke Poetry Prize, the Editor's Prize in the 2002 Marlboro Prize in Poetry competition, the 2004 Conference on Christianity and Literature Poetry Prize, the 2005 Superior Achievement Award in Poetry of the Virginia Writer's Club, three Pushcart Prize nominations, ten finalist commendations in national and international competitions, and listings in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who of American Women. In 2009, she was designated a Distinguished Scholar by Union College (Kentucky). In 2012, she was named Poet Laureate of Virginia.

Location:	RCAH Theater [map]
Price:	free
Sponsor:	Administration
Contact:	cpoetry@msu.edu 5178841932
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