karenor | Aww, I feel so proud, somehow.

My favorite professor and my thesis chair at SDSU, Ilya Kaminsky, has made the cover of the San Diego Reader. While it's a free paper, it has really high circulation, and it definitely means he's on his way UP. I was there the semester we selected him to be our new poetry professor (yes, students have some influence on this process) and the standing department chair was in tears after he'd finished teaching his trial class, because she felt like we were truly witnessing greatness. And though the decision hadn't been formally made yet, she knew we'd be privelaged to learn under him. And we were. He almost made me wish I could hang around longer, in a program I'd been absolutely miserable in. He's awesome. And so is the article. Which is about a lot more than him. About Russia and the Ukraine, about poetry, about teaching, about all sorts, as well as a good picture of him. The author is clearly a bit enamored, but nothing he says is that exaggerated. Give the article a looksee. Or a skim, it's worth it.

Here's an excerpt.

If the people who make those decisions at SDSU asked for it, my recommendation would be: Tie this guy up, make sure he stays at SDSU. He will be one of the best poets of his generation. He’s a wonderful teacher. He will bring honor to your university. [emphasis mine]