San Diego Poet Laureate to Speak at UC San Diego Library Event

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The University of California San Diego Library’s Signature Event Series, now in its fourth year of programming, continues with an event featuring San Diego Poet Laureate and UC San Diego alumnus Jason Magabo Perez ’03, MA ’13, PhD ’16. Hosted at UC San Diego’s Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club on Wednesday, February 28 at 6 p.m., the event will mark the finale of the 2023-2024 series. 

The evening’s discussion will highlight Perez’s newest book, "I ask about what falls away," as well as his time as San Diego’s Poet Laureate and previous works. Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik T. Mitchell will moderate the conversation with Perez and copies of “I ask about what falls away” will be available at the event. Registration is open and required.

“Our Signature Event Series gives us the opportunity to welcome and highlight speakers from various disciplines that have tremendous value to our community and society,” said Mitchell. “Each speaker touches on important issues we face today and how we can work together to build a brighter tomorrow. I look forward to hosting Jason and learning more about his impressive body of work.”

Perez serves as San Diego Poet Laureate 2023-2024, a Poet Laureate Fellow with the Academy of American Poets, and an Associate Professor and Director of Ethnic Studies at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). He is the author of “Phenomenology of Superhero” (2016), “This is for the Mostless” (2017) and “I ask about what falls away” (2024). His work has appeared in publications such as Interim, Witness, The Feminist Wire and NPR's Here & Now. 

As a recipient of a Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and previous Artist-in-Residence at the Center for Art and Thought, Perez has performed at notable venues such as the National Asian American Theater Festival, International Conference of the Philippines, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, La Jolla Playhouse and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE).

Established in 2020 as part of Geisel Library’s 50th anniversary celebration, the Library's Signature Event Series aims to provide the campus community and public with the opportunity to hear from authors, filmmakers, and artists who work on topics of profound relevance or interest. Each event is offered free of charge. The series is made possible through the philanthropic support of the Library’s generous Signature Event sponsors and Library Associates.

To learn more about this event or to register, visit https://lib.ucsd.edu/jasonperez. Press materials can be found online.

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