Oglethorpe University has selected author, educator and OU alumna Aline Mello ’12 as this year’s featured artist for “Oglethorpe Out Loud,” a celebration of creative expression that highlights the work of contemporary writers.

This special literary event will be held March 20 in Oglethorpe’s Philip Weltner Library, inviting students and the community to immerse themselves in a spoken-word performance of poems and stories from the young author. The event is free and open to the public.

Mello’s selections will include pieces from her first published poetry collection “More Salt than Diamond,” a powerful expression of the struggles she experienced as a young immigrant in the American South. Many of her works explore themes of culture and identity—and a desire to belong.

“Exposure to poetry and creative writing is not going to save the world,” says Mello. “But, creating and sharing art can help people feel less alone.  Many people can see themselves in art and connect with one another; it can help us understand that our points of view are not as different as we think.”

As featured artist, Mello will also visit classes, have lunch with creative writing students and meet with the community at a reception after the main event to provide professional insights and sign copies of her book, which will be offered for sale.

Oglethorpe Out Loud is organized by the English and Comparative Literature department, with a Creative Writing faculty member tapped to identify a poet each year. Associate Professor of English Dr. Sarah Terry and Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature Dr. Justin Haynes selected Mello to be the this year’s featured poet.

“The Oglethorpe Out Loud series provides all Oglethorpe students, particularly our aspiring creative writers, the valuable opportunity to meet and learn from working poets,” Terry said. “Aline’s work explores identity and belonging, and as an accomplished writer from our university, she can really help students chart their own creative paths.”

Mello is a Brazilian immigrant raised in the South. She is the author of “More Salt than Diamond,” her first poetry collection. Her work has been nominated three times for a Pushcart Prize and has been included in anthologies such as “Breakbeat Poets: Latinext” and “Somewhere We Are Human.” Her poems have been published in places that include The New Republic, Poets.org’s Poem-A-Day and The Georgia Review. She has an MFA in creative writing from The Ohio State University and a BA in English from Oglethorpe University. She is an educator living in Atlanta.

Established by a gift from alumna Leah Hughes ’88, Oglethorpe Out Loud brings esteemed poets to campus each year to expand Oglethorpe students’ exposure to contemporary creative writers. As a dedicated Oglethorpe alumna, she hopes the event provides the next generation of young authors at the university a chance to make connections and renew their vigor for creating art that makes an impact.