Honoring Nikki Giovanni: A Legendary Poet, Activist, and Virginia Tech Icon
Nikki Giovanni, a trailblazing poet, activist, and professor, has left an indelible mark on literature and education. Passing away on December 9 at the age of 81 after her third battle with cancer, Giovanni’s legacy continues to inspire countless admirers.
Renowned for her profound insights on social issues, Giovanni was celebrated worldwide for her poetry and essays that challenged perspectives on race, gender, and justice. Her extraordinary contributions earned her over 30 honorary degrees and accolades like being named one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 living legends.
A Life of Literary Excellence
Giovanni’s prolific career saw her publish at least 11 illustrated children’s books and achieve an Emmy for the documentary Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. Even in her later years, she maintained a rigorous schedule of speaking engagements and writing. Her forthcoming book of poetry is set to be published in fall 2025.
At Virginia Tech, where she taught for 35 years before retiring in 2022, Giovanni shaped the lives of thousands of students. She co-founded the Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize in 2006, rewarding student poets and encouraging a culture of creative expression.
“We can never let words be silenced,” Giovanni once declared during a poetry award ceremony. “Words are the most important things that human beings have. And no matter what the situation, we must always remember to use them.”
A Guiding Force at Virginia Tech
Giovanni’s influence at Virginia Tech extended beyond the classroom. She wrote moving poems commemorating significant events, including the April 16 tragedy and the Class of 2020’s pandemic-era commencement.
Virginia Tech President Tim Sands described her as “a treasure who lived out Ut Prosim in countless ways, using her literary gifts to motivate change, inspire dreams, and provide comfort during times of grief.”
In 2023, she became the fifth recipient of Virginia Tech’s Ut Prosim Scholar Award. Giovanni also created the Fowler-Giovanni Fund with her wife, retired professor Virginia Fowler, to support visiting scholars and students in the Department of English.
A Teacher Who Changed Lives
Giovanni’s teaching philosophy encouraged critical thinking and curiosity. “I want my students to not accept what they are hearing but to ask, ‘What kind of sense does this make?’” she said upon her retirement.
Her impact resonates through the lives of her students, including bestselling author and Emmy-winning producer Kwame Alexander. Initially resistant to Giovanni’s teachings, Alexander eventually regarded her as his “literary mother.” “I’m so grateful and so much better because of her,” he shared.
A Legacy of Love and Community
Giovanni brought warmth and inclusion to Virginia Tech, hosting events like campus-wide fish fries and welcoming literary icons such as Maya Angelou and Rita Dove. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised in Ohio, she joined Virginia Tech in 1987, recruited by Fowler.
Her enduring legacy is also deeply felt by her family. Giovanni is survived by Fowler, her son Thomas Giovanni, her granddaughter Kai Giovanni, and numerous loved ones.
“Nikki Giovanni was a force of nature,” said Laura Belmonte, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. “Her words will continue to challenge, inspire, and guide us for generations to come.”
Giovanni’s Hokie family and the world mourn her loss but celebrate a life dedicated to empowering others and enriching the human experience through the power of words.
