The University of Arizona Poetry Center Bids Farewell to Gail Browne

After an impressive 10 year run, Gail Browne is stepping down from her post as head of the University of Arizona Poetry Center. Check out what she accomplished while she was there:

During her time at the Poetry Center, Browne oversaw the capital campaign for and construction of its landmark Helen S. Schaefer Building, located at 1508 E. Helen St. The building was the first of three major poetry facilities built in the past five years and won a 2009 Arizona American Institute of Architects Award for Design. The other recently constructed facilities in the U.S. are Poets’ House in New York and the Poetry Foundation building in Chicago.

The Poetry Center has received numerous other awards during Browne time as director. Among them: the Tucson Pima Arts Council Lumies Arts and Business Award for Arts Education Program in 2012; Tucson’s Favorite Public Architecture from Tucson Home in 2009; the Arizona Literary Treasure from the Arizona Humanities Council in 2008; and a new landmark library award from Library Journal.

...Over that time, individual donations for program support have grown from about $5,000 to $65,000 annually. Last year, more than 30,000 people either visited the center or benefited from its off-site programming. In addition, more than 70 volunteers support the center, aiding with programs, tours, fundraising and community outreach, among other things.

She will certainly be missed! Read the full article, courtesy of UANews.