ANDOVER, Mass.—Robert Hass, former poet laureate of the United States, will read his poetry at 7 p.m. Friday, May 23, in Kemper Auditorium. The public is invited to attend the free event, which will be followed by a question and answer period.

As U.S. poet laureate from 1995-1997, Hass made the Office of Poetry and Literature a position from which to launch action, working both to heighten literacy and promote awareness about the environment. Awarded the MacArthur "genius" Fellowship and the National Book Critics Circle Award twice, he currently is a professor of English at the University of California/Berkeley.

Hass has published several books of poetry, including Field Guide, Praise, Human Wishes and Sun Under Wood, as well as a book of essays on poetry, Twentieth Century Pleasures, and he was guest editor of the 2001 edition of Best American Poetry. Founder of River of Words, which promotes environmental and arts education in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, Hass recently was chosen Educator of the Year by the North American Association on Environmental Education.

His visit to Phillips Academy is supported by the school’s Sandra Isham Vreeland Fund.