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U.S. State Poets Laureate: A Resource Guide

State Poets Laureate

A list of current U.S. state poets laureate, including the District of Columbia, appears below. Select a state to read a history of its poet laureate position and a list of its former poets laureate.

Current State Poets Laureate

Juan Felipe Herrera served as State Poet Laureate of California from 2012-2014 and U.S. Poet Laureate from 2015-2017. Photo courtesy of Blue Flower Arts.
STATE POET LAUREATE
Alabama Ashley M. Jones
Alaska Heather Lende (State Writer Laureate)
Arizona Alberto Ríos
Arkansas Jo Garot McDougall
California Lee Herrick
Colorado Bobby LeFebre
Connecticut Margaret Gibson
Delaware Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Albert Mills
District of Columbia Position Vacant
Florida Peter Meinke
Georgia Chelsea Rathburn
Hawaii Kealoha (Steven Kealohapau'ole Hong-Ming Wong)
Idaho CMarie Fuhrman (Official Title: Writer in Residence)
Illinois Angela Jackson
Indiana Official Laureate: Matthew Graham
Premier Poet (unofficial poet laureate): Sarah E. Morin
Iowa Debra Marquart
Kansas Huascar Medina
Kentucky Silas House
Louisiana Mona Lisa Saloy
Maine Julia Bouwsma
Maryland Grace Cavalieri
Massachusetts No Position
Michigan Nandi Comer
Minnesota Gwen Westerman
Mississippi Catherine Pierce
Missouri Maryfrances Wagner
Montana Mark Gibbons
Nebraska Matt Mason
Nevada Gailmarie Pahmeier
New Hampshire Alexandria Peary
New Jersey No Position
New Mexico Levi Romero
New York Willie Perdomo (Official Title: State Poet)
North Carolina Jaki Shelton Green
North Dakota Larry Woiwode
Ohio Kari Gunter-Seymour
Oklahoma Joe Russell Kreger
Oregon Anis Mojgani
Pennsylvania No Position
Rhode Island Tina Cane
South Carolina Position Vacant
South Dakota Vacant
Tennessee Margaret Britton Vaughn
Texas Lupe Mendez
Utah Paisley Rekdal
Vermont Mary Ruefle
Virginia Luisa A. Igloria
Washington Rena Priest
West Virginia Marc Harshman
Wisconsin Dasha Kelly Hamilton
Wyoming Eugene M. Gagliano