Academic career In 1989, New joined the Department of English at the University of Pennsylvania. From 2019-2025, New was the director of the Educational Media Innovation Studio at
Arizona State University. In 2025, New was fired by ASU as a result of her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Poetry in America New is the creator and host of
Poetry in America, a public television series which premiered in 2018. The show (and associated nonprofit, Verse Video Education), was funded in part by disgraced financier
Jeffrey Epstein. In 2016, Epstein donated $110,000 to spearhead the project. He also coordinated interviews with guests (including
Woody Allen), and gave New creative input. New kept Epstein's involvement a secret from most of her staff. In 2022, the show's presenting station,
WGBH, cut ties with
Poetry in America after learning of Epstein's initial financial contribution to the show.
Poetry in America then moved to
Arizona PBS for its fourth season. In 2025, following evidence of Epstein's continued financial and creative involvement
Poetry in America through 2019,
PBS announced that it would stop distributing the show entirely, canceling its fifth season, and removing all prior seasons from its platforms. == Association with Jeffrey Epstein ==