Saint Xavier University will host Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet Maya Angelou at 8 p.m. Oct. 7.

Angelou has entertained several colleges, including a sold-out NIU crowd in Oct. 1999 in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom.

“African-American poetry helps us to see how black Americans have been able to compose themselves in light of difficulties,” Angelou said at her ’99 lecture. “We are liberated to know that we can make the effort to change ourselves and our social environments & but it takes courage.”

Phyllis Gooden, a teaching assistant in the freshman writing program, attended the 1999 lecture.

“I attended a ‘An Evening with Maya Angelou’ at NIU, and I felt energized and motivated,” Gooden said. “An audience can expect to be moved to laughter and tears as Angelou retraces her rise to worldwide international fame. They also can expect to be entertained. An evening with Angelou is like a fireside chat where stories of victory and achievement celebrate not only the storyteller’s accomplishments, but celebrate the spirit of conquest in each of us to overcome obstacles, barriers and overwhelming circumstances.”

Alli Woods, director of student activities at Saint Xavier University, is excited over Angelou’s visit.

“It is a true honor to host Maya Angelou on our campus,” Woods said.

The Saint Xavier campus is located at 3700 W. 103rd St., Chicago, about a 90-minute drive from DeKalb. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased through Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212 or online at www.ticketmaster.com

Students who attend should have no problem comprehending the lecture.

“The reason I enjoy listening to Maya Angelou’s poems read aloud is because they are musical. I also like her poetry because it is easily accessible,” said Joann Scholtes, a graduate assistant and English doctoral candidate.

Her past work includes her autobiographical book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” a Tony nomination for the play “Look Away” and various television appearances.