US President George Bush has recently announced his intention to nominate poet, critic and educator Dana Gioia as the next Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Best known for his book, Can Poetry Matter?, which examines the role of poetry in contemporary culture, Gioia has published three full-length books of poetry in addition to numerous translations, essays and reviews. Noted as a long-time cultural commentator for BBC Radio, Gioia is also a classical music critic for San Francisco magazine. In addition, he has taught as a visiting writer at academic institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Sarah Lawrence College and Wesleyan University. Previously, he spent 15 years as a business executive for General Foods. Goia has commented that he is deeply honoured by President Bush's nomination. 'If confirmed by the Senate, I shall do my best to be worthy of this public trust. I am particularly excited by the opportunity to help guide an agency whose role is so important to our society and culture,' he said. Once the nomination is officially made, it will be reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is the committee chairman and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) is the ranking Republican member. Once confirmed, the new Chairman would serve a four-year term.