Gary Jackson featured at FMU School of Business for annual Common Author Colloquium

April 12, 2026 - 02:31

More than 60 students, faculty, and community members gathered at Harris Auditorium Thursday for the annual Common Author Colloquium. The event featured acclaimed poet Gary Jackson, who engaged the audience in a discussion centered on his new collection, “Small Lives: Poems.”

Jackson’s work creatively reimagines the mythologies of comic book superheroes, using them as a lens to explore contemporary themes of identity, power, and societal expectation. During the colloquium, he read selected pieces and delved into his creative process, explaining how these iconic figures can be used to examine complex human experiences.

The lively session, which included a question-and-answer period, provided unique insight into the intersection of poetry and pop culture. Attendees left with a deeper appreciation for how modern poetry can draw from universal narratives to comment on personal and collective life. The colloquium serves as a key annual academic event, designed to foster meaningful dialogue between authors, scholars, and the public.