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Dana Gioia
Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
National Press Club Luncheon Speaker -- June 30, 2003
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Dana Gioia, the ninth chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, grew up in California. He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Stanford University with master's degree in business administration. He also received a master's degree in comparative literature from Harvard University. He then began working for General Foods, eventually becoming the vice president of marketing.
Intimately involved in the American arts community, Gioia is a critic, poet, writer, and teacher. His influential 1991 book, Can Poetry Matter?, explored the role of poetry in contemporary society. His poetry anthology, Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, is a best-selling college literature textbook. In addition to his poetry, Gioia has written for major publications across the United States on subjects ranging from American culture to classical music criticism, and has taught at universities such as Johns Hopkins University and Sarah Lawrence College.
Since being confirmed by the Senate as NEA chairman on Jan. 29, 2003, Gioia has continued work on NEA projects such as the Endowment's Challenge America program. Gioia has been especially vocal in his support of the "Shakespeare in American Communities" initiative, which brings Shakespeare to many local theaters and schools across the nation.
Gioia and his wife Mary have two sons.
Related Links:
• The National Endowment for the Arts
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