Yusef Komunyakaa, a professor and Distinguished Senior Poet at New York University and the former chancellor for the Academy of American Poets, will speak at Fresno State on March 13 as part of the University Lecture Series.

The program is at 7:30 p.m. in the Satellite Student Union, 2485 E. San Ramon Ave.

Komunyakaa, a Louisiana native, is the author 12 books of poetry, among them “Neon Vernacular: New and elected Poems,” which won the Pulitzer Prize. His “Thieves of Paradise” and “Talking Dirty to the Gods” were finalists for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Other honors include a Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the William Faulkner Prize from the Université de Rennes, the Hanes Poetry Prize and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.

His most recent book is “Gilgamesh,” a verse play (concept and dramaturgy by Chad Gracia), which was published by Wesleyan University Press in November 2006.

The University Lecture Series is a program of the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, with additional support provided by Coke and James Hallowell, the University Student Union, the Associated Students, Piccadilly Inn Hotels and KJWL-FM.

Advance tickets are available at the University Student Union Information Desk. Tickets are $10 general admission; $6 Fresno State faculty, staff, Alumni Association members and seniors; and $2 Fresno State and University High School students.

Prices on the day of the event increase by $2 for general admission, faculty, staff and Alumni Association members.

For more information or tickets, call 559.278.2431 or visit www.csufresno.edu/universitylecture <http://www.csufresno.edu/universitylecture> .