A poetry reading was held Oct. 17 in the Living/ Learning Center’s University Room, where Julia Kasdorf of Penn State read from her 2011 book, “Poetry in America.”

Approximately 20 people attended the event, the majority of them students. Freshman creative writing major Rachel Dabis was among them.

“I thought it was very interesting,” Dabis said. “She wasn’t trying to be poetic. She just did what she loved.”

The reading was part of a fall reading series organized by professor Michael Cox, coordinator of professional writing program.

The reading was the second of a three-part series that covers fiction, poetry and nonfiction genres.

Cox said he tries to bring in writers from different genres to give students multiple writing perspectives.

“I try to bring writers of national reputation to UPJ.”

Kasdorf is an associate professor of English and women’s studies at Pennsylvania State University.

She has won awards, including a poetry prize for her first book, “Sleeping Preacher.”

Kasdorf said she began writing poetry at 4, getting serious with it her junior year of high school. She said she almost switched to a journalism major in college, but decided to stick with an English major.

She said she was worried about how she would make money, but eventually got her doctorate degree and got published.

Barbara Hurd is to be the featured speaker for the final fall reading series event, which is to be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the LLC’s University Room.