Black Arts and Culture

Virginia Tech Plans Nikki Giovanni Tribute

Virginia Tech will honor iconic poet and educator Nikki Giovanni with a June 8 celebration featuring Kwame Alexander and Renee Watson in an afternoon of poetry, performance, and reflection on her powerful legacy.

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BLACKSBURG, VA

A celebration of the life and works of Nikki Giovanni will take place Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Virginia Tech.

The special event will feature award-winning authors Kwame Alexander and Renee Watson, who will present an “afternoon of poetry, performance and celebration of a life of beauty and power,” according to a VT press release.

Giovanni was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator. One of the world’s best-known African-American poets, Giovanni was recruited in 1987 to teach at Virginia Tech. She became a University Distinguished Professor, before retiring in 2022.