Tom McGrath Visiting Writer Series
Named in honor of the late Thomas McGrath, an internationally recognized and award-winning author who taught at Moorhead State University from 1969-1983, the Tom McGrath Visiting Writers Series brings to campus some of the finest contemporary writers to read and share their work with students, faculty and the community. The series has featured more than 150 featured writers and sponsored or supported more than 50 other writers and events since its inaugural season.
“Now the long freight of autumn goes smoking out to the land. My possibles are all packed, but still I do not leave. I am happy enough here, where Dakota drifts wild into the universe...” —Tom McGrath, from Beyond the Red River Valley
Support the McGrath Visiting Writers Series
More than 10,000 people have attended these free, public events during the series’ 29-year history. The series also sponsors readings by writers from the MSU Moorhead faculty and from the region upon publication of their new books; the annual publication reading of the campus literary magazine, Red Weather; and writers visiting under the auspices of the Visiting Scholar’s Program, the Convocation Committee, New Rivers Press, and the Glasrud Lecture Series.
Some of the many distinguished visiting writers have included U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins; Pulitzer Prize winners Carol Shields and Ted Kooser; National Book Award Winners Robert Bly and William Stafford; and National Book Critics Circle Award winners Louise Erdrich and B.H. Fairchild.