Welcome to Bradley University's Illinois Poet Laureate website. Here you'll learn generally about my laureate activities but more specifically how those activities impact Bradley students as well as the Peoria community.

Over the years, Bradley has become a focal point for the study and promotion of Illinois poetry. Our students study the work of Illinois poets in the classroom, listen to Illinois poets read from their work within our Visiting Writers Series, and share their knowledge of Illinois poetry by working with area high school students. Illinois poetry is at the center of a lively dialogue here at Bradley. For instance, my own labors co-editing (with G. E. Murray) the Illinois Voices poetry anthology were greatly aided by Bradley students' input during several courses devoted to the subject.

This site will therefore focus largely on campus activities. We'll feature the work of Bradley's talented array of student poets, offering both text and audio samples of their work. In this way, you'll be able to hear as well as to read these students' wonderful poetry. We'll also keep you apprised of our Visiting Writers Series and show you how those writers interact with students and the local community.

And, yes, you'll find a sampling of my work here as well - including both text and audio.

You're invited to return often to this site, as new work will added periodically. Finally, remember to visit my state Poet Laureate's website at www.poetlaureate.il.gov.

Sincerely,

Kevin Stein
Illinois Poet Laureate
and Caterpillar Professor of English