Rae Armantrout is a professor of writing in the literature department at UCSD and the author of ten books of poetry, including Versed, Next Life, which was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best poetry books of 2007, and Up to Speed, also selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best poetry books of the year. She has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Fund for Poetry, and the California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship.

Since 2001, the Poem Present Reading and Lecture series has been bringing distinguished contemporary poets to The University of Chicago to read from their work as well as to speak on topics in contemporary poetry of interest to them. This is a unique two-part format designed to meet students and scholars halfway, so to speak. Over the years, the series has expanded to include performances and bilingual events as well.

Recorded Friday, January 22, 2010 at University of Chicago-Rosenwald 405.