Morgan State University president offers job to inaugural poet Amanda Gorman

After watching inaugural poet Amanda Gorman’s highly acclaimed performance on Wednesday, Morgan State University President David Wilson jumped on Twitter to offer her a job.

“Ms. Gorman, I need you as our Poet-in-Residence at the National Treasure, ⁦@MorganStateU Outstanding!!!!! Consider this a job offer!” wrote the leader of the historically Black college in Baltimore.

⁦@TheAmandaGorman. ⁩ Ms. Gorman, I need you as our Poet-in-Residence at the National Treasure, ⁦@MorganStateU⁩ Outstanding!!!!! Consider this a job offer! pic.twitter.com/jJ8tJ6oPvn

— David Wilson (@morganpres) January 20, 2021

Wilson later told The Baltimore Sun that while it was spontaneous, he was serious about the job offer.

“I’m very serious about opening an opportunity for her to come here as a poet in residence,” he said. “We have all kinds of authors on campus, and we think that being at Morgan for a year would give her an even deeper and wider perspective on the issues she is addressing. If she would accept this offer, I would move on it in a heartbeat.”

“I will be watching my emails,” he added.

Gorman, 22, became the youngest known inaugural poet in U.S. history when she recited “The Hill We Climb,” after President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn in Wednesday.

The Harvard graduate quickly became an internet sensation as thousands of social media users praised her work. Her Twitter account jumped to more than 1.2 million followers, and two books she wrote surged to the top of Amazon’s bestselling list.

Gorman carried on the tradition of Democratic presidents having celebrated poets read an original piece at inauguration ceremonies.

Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning,” written for the 1993 inauguration of former President Clinton, went on to sell more than 1 million copies when published in book form. 

Gorman said the ring she wore on Wednesday was gifted to her by Oprah Winfrey and depicted a caged bird in honor of Angelou.

Gorman became the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, two years after she published her first book of poetry, “The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough.”