September 20, 2002

Poet to Lead Guggenheim Foundation

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has chosen one of its former fellows, the poet Edward Hirsch, as its next president.

The unusual move -- poets are rarely, if ever, chosen to lead major foundations -- reflects the foundation's continuing support for individual artists, said the departing president, Joel Conarroe, who served for 17 years. Mr. Hirsch, he said, "is best suited by intelligence, education, background, and temperament to lead the