Matthew Zapruder Named The New York Times Magazine Poetry Column Editor

Saint Mary's College of California has some good news: Professor Matthew Zapruder has been named The New York Times Magazine's new poetry column editor, taking over the post from Natasha Trethewey. His appointment begins March 6, 2016 and runs until the spring of 2017. More:

School of Liberal Arts Dean Sheila Hassell Hughes said Zapruder's latest honor is an inspiration to his students and to all in the Saint Mary's community. “Matthew is a rising poetry rock star. His work is terrific and is garnering all kinds of recognition. What's especially wonderful for us is that his first thought is always, ‘How can I use this experience to benefit Saint Mary’s students?”

An associate professor in Saint Mary's English Department, Zapruder teaches in and directs the College's MFA in Creative Writing Program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. He said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to share poetry with the magazine’s large online audience and nearly 4 million print readers, who come to the newspaper for the news of the world.

“I like the idea that someone would turn the page of The New York Times Magazine and see a poem, and that those words in the poem would have a chance to follow up on, refract, amplify, reconfigure, the language of culture and news,” said Zapruder. “The poem gets a chance to exist in a place that is not isolated or rarified. It gets to be a part of life, and we get to read it that way, too.”