Washington — Barack Obama is returning poetry to the presidential inauguration for the first time in a decade.

Elizabeth Alexander, a professor of African-American studies at Yale University, will become just the fourth poet to appear at an inauguration ceremony when she recites one of her poems immediately following Mr. Obama’s inaugural address on January 20, according to the order of events released today by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Ms. Alexander became the first winner of the Jackson Poetry Prize last year, and was also a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2005. Her father, a former secretary of the Army, was an adviser to Mr. Obama during his campaign.

Robert Frost was the first poet to recite at an inauguration, reading “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 at age 86. Maya Angelou and Miller Williams appeared at Bill Clinton’s first and second inaugurations, respectively.

Other performances at the ceremony include musical selections by Aretha Franklin, Yo-Yo Ma, and Itzhak Perlman, as well as an invocation by Pastor Rick Warren and a benediction by the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery. —Reeves Wiedeman