SMSU Creative Writing Program to host alumnus/poet Matthew Ness

Southwest Minnesota State University will host Matthew Ness from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the William Whipple Gallery for a Valentine’s Day poetry reading.

Matthew Ness is a 2007 graduate of SMSU. He earned bachelor’s degrees in History and Philosophy and minored in Indigenous Nations & Dakota Studies.

He earned a master’s degree in History with Indigenous emphasis from the University of South Dakota in 2016.

His poem “On the Fairview Bottom” was published in South Dakota magazine. He is the author of his master’s thesis paper “Federal Indian Policy, Psychiatric Care, and the Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians.”

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, he will be reading poetry and sharing stories. He said, “Poetry is a living act of love that requires no human others to validate or approve of you.”

The event is free and open to the public. The reading will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

For more information, contact Dr. Judy Wilson in the SMSU Creating Writing Program at judy.wilson@SMSU.edu.­­