Business Courier: UC grad says poetry can help people cope
Cincinnati poet laureate Manuel Iris says people need poetry more than ever in pandemic
University of Cincinnati graduate Manuel Iris says people can turn to poetry to cope with the stresses of COVID-19, quarantines and the uncertain times.
Iris spoke to The Business Courier about the role poetry can play in a crisis. In the profile, Iris
"This is the moment for the arts," he told The Courier. "Our souls need to be fed."
Iris is Cincinnati's poet laureate and a graduate of UC's College of Art and Sciences, where he earned a doctorate in Romance Languages and Literature. He grew up in Mexico where he fostered an appreciation for creative writing. He teaches writing and literature at DePaul Cristo Rey High School near UC's campus and coaches a poetry slam team.
Featured image at top: UC graduate Manuel Iris gives a poetry reading at the Cincinnati Mercantile Library. Photo/Melanie Schefft
UC graduate Manuel Iris, right, talks at a reception at the Cincinnati Mercantile Library. He says poetry can help people cope with stress. Photo/Melanie Schefft
Related Stories
UC archaeologist receives 2026 Athens Prize
May 13, 2026
University of Cincinnati archaeologist Jack L. Davis received the 2026 Athens Prize from the American School of Classical Studies at Athens during its annual gala May 7 at Gotham Hall. The award recognizes scholars whose work has significantly advanced knowledge of ancient Greece, a distinction that reflects Davis’ decades-long impact on the field of Aegean archaeology.
‘GangTok’: Study provides insights about the presence of gang culture on Tiktok
May 12, 2026
John Leverso, an assistant professor in the UC School of Criminal Justice, is lead author of the research, 'GangTok: Street gang content, culture, and roleplay on TikTok' published recently in Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal.
CCM welcomes visiting arts administration faculty member Quanice G. Floyd
May 12, 2026
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Quanice G. Floyd, EdD, as CCM's new Visiting Professor of Arts Administration. Her faculty appointment officially begins on June 1, 2026, and Floyd will work to develop and launch a new online degree in Arts Administration at CCM.