In memoriam: Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet, activist, and Virginia ...
Nikki Giovanni, a renowned literary legend and retired Virginia Tech professor, has completed her final chapter.
The acclaimed poet, activist, and University Distinguished Professor Emerita passed away on Dec. 9, after battling cancer for the third time. She was 81 years old.
Giovanni, whom Oprah Winfrey named one of 25 living legends, retired from Virginia Tech in 2022 after 35 years as a professor in the Department of English.
Still, she continued a busy speaking, traveling, and writing schedule, including returning to campus to present the annual Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize Award to undergraduate students in April. Giovanni, along with the late Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger, created the competition in 2006, offering monetary prizes for student poets.
“We can never let words be silenced,” said Giovanni during the Moss Arts Center ceremony. “We can never let words be taken away from us. We can never let people, because they don't like what we're saying, shut us up. Words are the most important things that human beings have. And no matter what the situation, we must always remember to use them.”
Many Hokies can attest to the power of Giovanni’s words - both spoken and written. She is known around the world for her poetry, essays, and written work that delve into social issues, such as race and gender, and call for action. She has received more than 30 honorary degrees, published at least 11 illustrated children’s books, and even won an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.”
Her latest book of poetry is set for publication in fall 2025.
“To know Nikki was to be forever changed by her,” said Laura Belmonte, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. “One minute, she would say something that would make you laugh so hard you would cry. The next minute, she would say something that would haunt you for months and make you reevaluate the world as you knew it. She was a force of nature and our college, Virginia Tech, and the world itself are better for her impact on all of them.”