Taking the honors with a laugh, Haviaris replied, "I'm embarrassed and I'm mortified, but I am happy that the work was more than just a job."
Haviaris is largely responsible for the Woodberry Poetry Room's enormous collections of rare written and spoken verse.
"His efforts have made ours the most extensive poetry collection the U.S.," said Vendler.
In addition to his duties as curator, Haviaris founded and edits the Harvard Review, a literary journal, and sponsors the many poetry readings at Lamont for new and established poets.
"Stratis took a moribund institution and turned into a lively thing," said Bill Corbett, a poet and teacher at MIT. "He has always represented the whole art."
The annual lectureship, which will feature a different poet each year, was established by an anonymous donor.