Dr. Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, the Poet Laureate of Virginia, will conduct a workshop on the relationship of painting, sculpture, and poetry during a three-hour visit to Mason on Monday, April 9. She will follow this workshop with a poetry reading in the auditorium. Foronda is the author of four books of poetry, Contrary Visions, Gathering Light, Death Comes Riding, and Greatest Hits. Her poetry honors include three Pushcart Prize nominations, an Edgar Allan Poe First Place award, a Spree first place award and many others. A lifelong educator, dedicated to fostering critical and creative thinking skills through poetry instruction, Dr. Foronda has taught at George Mason University and for many years at West Springfield High School. Her efforts have earned her a Meritorious Educator of the Year Award, a Hodgson Award in English and many other distinctions. Her appearance at Mason is being underwritten by the Virginia Council for the Arts and the George Mason High School PTSA.