RCC Names Pearl River's Masterson Poet-in-Residence

Rockland Community College announced Wednesday that it is naming Dan Masterson of Pearl River the school's first Poet-in-Residence.

Masterson, 78, is Rockland County's Poet Laureate. He has been teaching at RCC for 48 years, but he has been a poet since his own grade school days. 

"The college is proud to have world-renowned poet Dan Masterson as a member of our faculty and to appoint him as our first Poet-in-Residence," said RCC President Dr. Cliff L. Wood. "He has inspired decades of students, from our Honors students who have gone on to the Ivy League to those who simply needed to learn the fine art of expression."

Masterson wrote in his letter of acceptance that the residency demonstrates RCC's dedication to scholarly and artistic pursuits.

Masterson will work with high school and college students as RCC's Poet in Residence, helping them to understand and appreciate poetry and acting as a mentor for developing poets. 

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Masterson has been a published poet for 52 years. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Esquire, Poetry, Ontario Review, The London Magazine, Paris Review, Georgia Review, Random House Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, Pushcart III and Pushcart XIII. 

To read more about Masterson, click here and here.