Dana Gioia, a poet, critic, translator and literary commentator, will be nominated by President Bush to be the next chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Gioia will replace Michael P. Hammond, who died suddenly in January just a week after taking over the post.
Gioia said he was honored by the nomination and "excited by the opportunity to help guide an agency whose role is so important to our society and culture." Once Gioia's name has been officially submitted, the nomination will be reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. If confirmed, Gioia will serve a four-year term as NEA chair.
Gioia is a former business executive for General Foods who has since become an internationally acclaimed poet and critic. He has published three books of poetry, including the 2002 American Book Award— winning Interrogations at Noon (Graywolf Press). He is the author of Can Poetry Matter?
