Chapter and Verse: Remembering Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni, a renowned literary legend and retired Virginia Tech professor, passed away on Dec. 9, 2024. Known around the world for her poetry, essays, and other written work, Giovanni received more than 30 honorary degrees, published at least 11 illustrated children’s books, and even won an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.”

Also, Giovanni used her words to mark some of the university’s historic and untimely events, writing poems for the April 16 tragedy and for the Class of 2020’s commencement ceremony at the height of the COVID pandemic. In 2023, she was the fifth recipient of Virginia Tech’s Ut Prosim Scholar Award.

Many alumni, faculty, students, and people around the nation shared personal tributes following her death. The Hokie community will celebrate her life this summer. 

Many alumni, faculty, students, and people around the nation shared personal tributes following her death. Here are some.

Ayah Ali, a first-year student, engineering major, and winner of the 2024 Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize competition

Nikki Giovanni “was truly an inspiration, and it was an honor to meet her last April. Before the Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize ceremony, she briefly came backstage and spoke to all the finalists to give words of encouragement and inspiration. “Her work breathes life into the rising generations of writers and activists every day. May we carry on her arts and her advocacy.”

Gena Chandler, associate chair of the Department of English and associate professor

“Nikki was a wonder. So many people knew her as a phenomenal poet and teacher, but she was an even more exceptional human being—extraordinarily kind, compassionate, and loving.”

Will Furrer ’91, former Hokie and NFL quarterback who majored in English

Furrer said Giovanni’s classes were the key to helping him find his voice. Her classroom discussions spanned multiple topics, from music and art to political issues.

“I think she was trying to work the room in a way that was challenging the way we thought in the past or the way that we would think in the future,” said Furrer, an executive fellow for strategy for Q2 banking in Austin, Texas.

He described Giovanni’s pointed questions as constant voices on his shoulder throughout his career.

“That’s the way in which Nikki was able to pass on her creative brilliance to so many others, with these very simple and portable lessons,” Furrer said.