Professor Mark Ford Nominated for Prestigious Oxford Professorship of Poetry

Professor Mark Ford, an esteemed poet and Professor of English at UCL, has been nominated for the Oxford Professorship of Poetry. His extensive body of work encompasses numerous publications on British, American, and French literature spanning the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. The nomination of Professor Mark Ford serves as a testament to his exceptional talent and enduring contribution to the world of literature.

Established in 1708, the Oxford Professorship of Poetry boasts a lineage of accomplished individuals. If selected as the next Oxford Professor of Poetry, Professor Mark Ford will join an exclusive lineage of esteemed individuals who have held the position throughout history. Notable figures among them include Seamus Heaney, W. H. Auden, Simon Armitage, and the current holder of the position, Alice Oswald. Traditionally, the selection process for the post relied on nominations from within the Professor of Poetry Committee. However, in a departure from convention, candidates who did not receive a nomination could also make applications. The Professor of Poetry Committee assesses all applications and shortlists candidates for the final election.

Reflecting on the significance of the nomination, Professor Mark Ford has said: 'It’s an honour even to be considered for such a position’. With an extensive background in delivering compelling literary critical lectures and a distinguished career as a poet within a university literature department, Professor Mark Ford has begun to consider potential lectures with provisional titles that range from 'It Is Later Than You Think: Poetry and Threat' to 'Langston Hughes, Derek Walcott, and the Deep South'; from 'Queer Pastoral: Gerard Manley Hopkins and A.E. Housman' to 'The Smile of Accomplishment: Self-Elegies from Christina Rossetti to Sylvia Plath'.

If selected as the next Oxford Professor of Poetry, Professor Mark Ford will join an exclusive lineage of esteemed individuals who have held the position throughout history. The professorship offers a unique opportunity to shape the academic landscape, influence literary discourse, and leave an indelible mark on the future of poetry.

Links

• Professor Mark Ford’s Academic profile
• Election of the Professor of Poetry