The Poetry Center wouldn't be what it is today without the caring stewardship of Tyler Meier. And we couldn't be more thrilled to celebrate his 2024 Friend of the Humanities Award from Arizona Humanities.

Awarded at a ceremony on October 5, the award recognizes Meier for promoting the humanities throughout his 11 years at the Poetry Center, with Arizona Humanities citing the Art for Justice grants program, which commissions work from writers exploring mass incarceration and supports the work of incarcerated writers, and the Climate Change + Poetry series, which highlighted the role of poetry in the planet's climate future.

“Through this award AZ Humanities is honoring Tyler’s exceptional leadership of the UA Poetry Center. With the Poetry Center’s extremely creative and hard-working staff, Tyler has kept poetry at the forefront in addressing some of the most difficult questions of our time, humanities concerns that affect us all,” said Gail Browne, who was the Poetry Center Executive Director from 2002 to 2013 and submitted the nomination.

Alain-Philippe Durand, Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities, lauded Meier for “actively and tirelessly promoting understanding and appreciation of the humanities in the community.”

“Mr. Meier’s entrepreneurial spirit, passion and kind determination are contagious and he succeeds in motivating his staff and board in following him in proposing new, innovative, events, programs, and development campaigns,” he said. “He is indeed making a lasting contribution to the cultural life of Arizona communities.”