HUNTER COLLEGE
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Dept. of English
695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065
T: 212 772 5164 F: 212 772 5411 mfa@hunter.cuny.edu
Toni Morrison, Sharon Olds, Salman Rushdie
The wonderful thing about studying in the red hot center of the
literary world is that everybody lives here, or visits here; and
it is astonishing how many of these distinguished writers have a
soft spot for Hunter College. So don't be surprised if Salman Rushdie
or Michael Ondaatje turn up in class (they have already) or if Sharon Olds or Anne Carson come to read and talk to you, or you find
yourself high above Manhattan, at dinner in the President's dining
room, and there is Toni Morrison, just across the table.
Great writers are often great teachers, and you'll come across many
of them when they read at our celebrated Distinguished Writers Series
or walk into your classroom and take their seat at the table.
Refer to our Calendar to see who else is coming to visit us. Or enter your email address in this box to receive updates:
Distinguished Writers, Fall 2012
Margaret Atwood - Thursday, October 4, 2012 Time: 6:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
David Ferry - Tuesday, October 23, 2012 Time: 7.30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Patrick McGrath - Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Time: 7.30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Margaux Fragoso - Tuesday, November 27, 2012 (NEW DATE) Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Aleksandar Hemon - Tuesday, December 4, 2012 Time: 7.30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Distinguished Writers,
Spring 2012
Hugo Hamilton– Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Sharon Olds – Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Téa Obreht– Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Michael Ondaatje– Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
MFA Faculty Reading with Peter Carey, Tom Sleigh, Nathan Englander and Kathryn Harrison– Monday, April 23, 2012
MFA faculty members read from new work: Carey from his forthcoming novel The Chemistry of Tears, Sleigh from his recent poetry collection Army Cats, Englander from his new story collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, and Harrison from her forthcoming novel Enchantments.
Time: 6:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Robert Pinsky and the Ben Allison Jazz Trio– Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Time: 7:30 PM Location: The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
(East 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Distinguished Writers, Fall 2011
Alexandra Styron – Wednesday, September 21, 2011 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Zadie Smith – Thursday, October 6, 2011 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Carol Muske-Dukes – Thursday, October 20, 2011 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Nick Flynn – Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Alice Fulton – Thursday, December 8, 2011 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Room 217, Hunter College, West Building, 2nd Floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. (southwest corner). Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007. Reading is free and open to the public but reservations are required.
Distinguished Writers, Spring 2011
Wesley Stace and Alex Ross — Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Peter Balakian — Wednesday, March 16, 2011 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Billy Collins — Monday, April 11, 2011 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: *NEW LOCATION* Lang Recital Theatre, Hunter College, North Building, 4th Floor, Enter on 69th St., between Lexington and Park Avenues.
Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Darin Strauss — Monday, May 9, 2011 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Nicole Krauss — Monday, May 16, 2011 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Distinguished Writers,
Fall 2010
Robert Hass —
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Hari Kunzru—
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College, North Building, 4th floor
(enter on East 69th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues) Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
ZZ Packer—
Monday, October 25, 2010 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College, North Building, 4th floor
(enter on East 69th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues) Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
MFA Open House 2010 — Date: Tuesday October 26, 2010 at 7.30pm
Location: Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68th St. b/w Park & Lexington Aves.
RSPVs are required: Click here to reserve your place. (Note: We'll never spam you or share your email address or personal details.)
Directions: Take the 6-train to 68th St., the F-train to 63rd St., or the 4 5 N R W to 59th St.
Greg Grandin—Monday, November 29, 2010 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Faculty Dining Room, Hunter College, West Building, 8th floor
Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Distinguished Writers,
Spring 2010
Mary Gaitskill— Monday February 8, 2010 Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Fl., West Building, Hunter College, Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Lynne Greenberg & Meena Alexander— Tuesday February 23, 2010 Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Fl., West Building, Hunter College, Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: No need to RSVP for this event. Just show up!
Michael Greenberg— Wednesday March 3, 2010 Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Fl., West Building, Hunter College, Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Seamus Heaney— Wednesday April 21, 2010 Time: 6:30pm Location: Assembly Hall, North Building, 1st Floor, Hunter College, 69th St. between Park and Lexington Ave. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Hunter MFA Graduate Thesis Reading 2010 — Tuesday April 27, 2010
Hear graduating Hunter MFA students read from their theses. Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Floor, West Building, Hunter College, soutwest corner of 68th St & Lexinton Ave. RSVP: No need to RSVP -- just show up. Event is free and open to the public.
Peter Carey— Wednesday May 12, 2010
"In Conversation With... Peter Carey" Tom Sleigh talks with Peter Carey on stage about Carey's work, his techniques and his views on art and literature. Followed by a reading by Carey. Time: 6:30pm Location: Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, 47-49 East 65th St., between Park and Madison Avenue. RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Distinguished Writers,
Fall 2009
Carolyn Forché — Thursday October 1, 2009 Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Fl., West Building, Hunter College, Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Mona Simpson & Patrick McGrath — Tuesday October 27, 2009 Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Fl., West Building, Hunter College, Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Alice Notley & Claudie Rankine — Thursday, November 12th, 2009 Time: 7:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Fl., West Building, Hunter College, Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Jonathan Safran Foer — Monday November 30, 2009 Time: 6:30pm Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Fl., West Building, Hunter College, Lexington Ave at 68th St. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Seamus Heaney — Wednesday April 21, 2010 Time: TBA (in the evening) Location: The Auditorium, Ground Floor, North Building, Hunter College, 68th St. between Lexington Ave and Park Ave, enter on the north side of the street. Take the 6-train to the 68th St. stop. (Full directions and Google map at the bottom of this page.) RSVP: to spevents@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4007
Other Hunter MFA Events, Fall 2009
Open House 2009 for Prospective MFA Students (MFA faculty and current students talk about the program and answer your questions.)
Tuesday November 3, 2009
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Faculty Dining Room, 8th Floor, Hunter College, West Building,
Lexington Ave at 68th Street, New York City. (Take the 6-train to 68th St.)
RSVP to mfa@hunter.cuny.edu, with the following subject line: "Open House 2009 RSVP, [your name], [preferred genre: fiction/nonfiction/poetry]" Your place is confirmed unless you hear otherwise. We look forward to seeing you there!
Distinguished Writers,
Spring 2009
Paul Muldoon* — Thursday February 26, 2009
Kent Haruf* — Wednesday March 25, 2009
Mary Karr* — Monday, April 6th, 2009
Mark Strand* — Monday April 20, 2009
Kamila Shamsie* — Wednesday May 6, 2009
Distinguished Writers Series Spring 2009
Kamila Shamsie, May 6 Mark Strand, April 20 Mary Karr, April 6 Don DeLillo, March 16 (MFA class visit only) Kent Haruf, March 25 Paul Muldoon, February 26
Distinguished Writers Series Fall 2008
Edward Hirsch, November 13 Darin Strauss and Jeff Talarigo, October 20 Yusef Komunyakaa and Michael Thomas, October 7 Edmund White, September 23
Distinguished Writers Series Spring 2008
Russell Banks*†, April 17 Frank Bidart*, April 9 Anne Carson, March 13 Frank McCourt, March 4 Anne Winters and Gary Shteyngart*, February 21
Distinguished Writers Series Fall 2007
Lynn Emanuel, December 6 Michael Cunningham, November 13
Robert Pinsky, October 25
Annie Proulx †, October 4 Kathryn Harrison, September 20
Distinguished Writers Series
Spring 2007
Peter Carey & Tom Sleigh, May 1 Claire Messud, April 24 Eavan Boland*, April 12 Nathan Englander*†, March 13
Colum McCann, February 13
Distinguished Writers Series
Fall 2006
Marie Howe, November 30
Ian McEwan*†, November 6 Deborah Eisenberg*, October 12 Richard Price*, September 26
[Seamus Heaney was unable to attend, for personal reasons]
Distinguished Writers Series
Spring 2006
Sharon Olds, Robert Pinsky and
C.K. Williams, May 4
Jonathan Franzen*, April 4
Eva Hoffman, March 21 Junot Diaz*, March 13
Philip Gourevitch, February 28
Distinguished Writers Series
Fall 2005
Derek Walcott, December 8
Colson Whitehead, November 15
Louise Gluck*†, October 27 Adrienne Rich, Cornelius Eady, Joy Harjo, Yusef Komunyakaa, Jan Heller Levi and Donna Masini, October 6
Walter Mosley*, September 13
Distinguished Writers Series
Spring 2005
Jean Valentine*, May 10 Jhumpa Lahiri †, April 21 Julian Barnes †, April 13
Mark Doty, March 9 Paul Auster, February 15
Distinguished Writers Series
Fall 2004
Tribute to Lucille Clifton, featuring Toni Morrison, Sharon Olds, Robert Hass, Brenda Hillman, Maxine Kumin, Li-Young Lee, Elizabeth Alexander, Quincy Troupe, Kevin Young, Haki R. Hadhubuti, Gerald Stern, Galway Kinnell, Walter Mosley and Sonia Sanchez,
November 18 Jamaica Kincaid, November 1 Andrew Sean Greer*, September 28 Salman Rushdie*†, September 21
Distinguished Writers Series
Spring 2004
Toni Morrison, May 20 Anne Carson, May 6 Michael Ondaatje, April 15 Wallace Shawn, March 9
Other writers who have visited the MFA program
2002-2003
Siri Hustvedt & Robert Hughes, December 2, 2003 Paul Auster, Ariel Dorfman & Edith Grossman, November 11, 2003
Carol Muske-Dukes, May 15, 2003 Nancy Milford, December 4, 2002 Gary Shteyngart, October 1, 2002
Blair Writers-in-Residence 1999-2003
Brenda Hillman*, 2003 Li-Young Lee*, 2002 Mona Simpson*, 2002 Cristina Garcia*, 2001 Philip Levine*, 2000 Grace Paley*, 2000 Michael Cunningham*, 1999
Blair Reading Series
1999-2003
Brenda Hillman*, March 26, 2003
Li-Young Lee*, April 18, 2002 Mona Simpson*, March 21, 2002 Mark Doty*, April 4, 2001 Peter Ho Davies, March 15 2001 Dorianne Laux, February 26, 2001 Cristina Garcia*, November 7, 2000 David Mura*, October 5, 2000 Billy Collins & Cornelius Eady,
May 5, 1999 Lucia Cordell Getsi & Joan Larkin,
April 13 1999 Pearl Abraham & Emer Martin,
March 25, 1999 Cristina Garcia*, February 11, 1999
In the list above, all writers gave readings of their work.
*Marks writers that also led an MFA craft class or workshop.
†Marks writers that also attended a dinner with MFA students.
