Mona Lisa Saloy, associate professor of American ethnic studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, will visit Allegheny this Thursday to conclude this year’s Single Voice Reading Series. Saloy was also the Keynote Speaker at the Re-Building New Orleans Conference at Tulane University.

“I’m happy and honored to be asked and looking forward to the visit to share my work and some information on my beloved New Orleans,” said Saloy.

Saloy grew up in New Orleans and became associate professor of English and director of creative writing in for Dillard University in New Orleans. Thankfully, Saloy was visiting Baton Rouge before Hurricane Katrina hit. She was still however, affected by the tragedy. Not only did Katrina take Saloy’s home from her, but she lost some notebooks filled with poetry about her grandfather in the disaster.

Christopher Bakken, Assistant Professor of English, speaks highly of Mona Lisa Saloy and explains that her visit will benefit the community because of her stunning poetry and experiences in New Orleans.

“[I have] required Mona Lisa’s book in my English 206 class this semester, and my students have been relishing its lively textures and boisterous music,” Bakken said. “She is open-hearted and kind with young poets, and our creative writers would be inspired by her largesse and her compassionate approach to young writers.”

“She will offer the Allegheny community a window into the complicated confluences of race and poverty and marginalization that became horribly and suddenly visible during and after the catastrophe of Katrina,” Bakken said.

Mona Lisa Saloy will be on campus today and tomorrow to share her poetry and experiences in New Orleans.

Her Single Voice Reading will consist of selections from “Red Beans and Ricely Yours: Poems,” which won the T.S. Eliot Prize in 2005. The reading is at 8 p.m. in Tillotson Room of the Alumni Center.

Then on Friday, Saloy will present a Lunchtime Lecture entitled “The New Orleans You Don’t Know: Culture Before and After Katrina” at 12 p.m. in room 301 of the Campus Center.