Photo by Devon-Albeit Photography New York Times best-selling author Maggie Smith will be the 2026 Hughes Lecturer at West Liberty University's Kelly Theater on Thursday, April 9.

WEST LIBERTY — West Liberty University will welcome award-winning writer and poet Maggie Smith as the 2026 Hughes Lecturer on Thursday, April 9.

Smith will deliver the Hughes Lecture at 4 p.m. in Kelly Theater. The event is free and open to the public.

Smith is the New York Times best-selling author of the memoir “You Could Make This Place Beautiful” (Atria Books, 2023) and the widely celebrated poetry collection “Good Bones” (Tupelo Press, 2017). She is the author of seven award-winning books and currently serves as the host of the acclaimed poetry podcast “The Slowdown.” Her newest poetry collection, “A Suit or a Suitcase” (Washington Square Press), was released on March 24.

Smith’s poem “Good Bones” gained international attention following the 2016 shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and was named the “Official Poem of 2016” by Public Radio International. The poem has since reached more than one million readers and continues to be widely shared in response to moments of tragedy and reflection.

During her visit to campus, Smith will meet with students from creative writing classes and the university’s book club before delivering the Hughes Lecture later in the afternoon.

“We are very excited to welcome Maggie Smith to campus as the 2026 Hughes Lecturer,” said Dr. W. Scott Hanna, professor of English and coordinator of the Hughes Lecture Series. “I have been a fan of her poetry for many years and have used her books and poems in my literature and writing classes, so it is a great honor to have her here to meet with students and to address the campus community.”

The Hughes Lecture Series is an annual tradition at West Liberty University dating back to the early 1970s. Named in honor of legendary English professor Raymond Hughes and supported by his generous endowment, the series has featured a wide range of distinguished speakers over the decades, including Homer Hickam, Jeannette Walls, David Sheff, Jayne Ann Phillips, Marc Harshman, Silas House and many others.

The lecture will be introduced by West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman. A book sale and signing will follow the event in the Nutting Gallery, where attendees will have the opportunity to purchase books and meet the author.

West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

To apply or learn more about West Liberty University, visit westliberty.edu.