Marilyn Nelson, a professor of English, was among the finalists for the National Book Award for poetry this year - for the second time. She was nominated for the 1997 award for her collection of poetry Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems. In 1991, her book The Homeplace also was a finalist.

This year's winner, announced in New York November 18, was William Meredith. He was selected for Efforts of Speech: New and Selected Poems.

English professor Margaret Gibson has also been a finalist for the National Book Award.