College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Daniel Summerhill Named Monterey County's First Poet Laureate

Daniel B. Summerhill photo

Daniel B. Summerhill, HCOM Assistant Professor of Poetry/Social Action and Composition Studies

January 12, 2022

Please join us in extending congratulations to Daniel B. Summerhill, HCOM Assistant Professor of Poetry/Social Action and Composition Studies, on being named Monterey County's first Poet Laureate!  This honor was conferred at the January 11, 2022, Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting by Jacquie Atcheson, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Monterey County.  
 
The Arts Council of Monterey County held a facebook live event, THE BIG REVEAL: As #Arts4MC announces Monterey County's Inaugural Poet Laureate and plans for expanding Poetry in our Community! Live at facebook.com/arts4mc
 
For students interested in taking a course with Summerhill, his courses have included: HCOM 330: INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING, HCOM 332: POETRY WORKSHOP, HCOM 125: READING & WRITING FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS (COMPOSITION), HCOM 341: POETRY & POP-CULTURE, HCOM 439: PAGE TO STAGE, HCOM 230: ENVIRONMENTAL CREATIVE WRITING & HCOM 432:SOCIAL ACTION WRITING.
 
Summerhill also directs the HCOM Writers From the Edge Series.  This series provides the campus with an opportunity to hear some of the best young contemporary authors, known and emerging, in the United States. These authors bring important perspectives on key concerns and issues confronting our nation and the world. The subject matter — migration, ethnic histories, transnational histories, and sexual identity, among other concerns—are relevant and important for our students and community, they also align with our curriculum.

These events support and further the CSUMB Founding Vision’s “commitment to multilingual, multicultural, gender-equitable learning.” They likewise serve in bringing positive and informed attention to the complex cultural differences that students bring to our campus and in the fostering of the University as a welcoming community that engages diversity in the service of student learning.  We look forward to sharing the spring schedule soon.