The position of Poet Laureate of Virginia was established December 18, 1936 by the

Virginia General Assembly The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere, the first elected legislative assembly in the New World, and was established on July 30, 16 ...

. Originally, the Poet Laureate of Virginia was appointed without outside consultation by the General Assembly, usually for one year, in a process that has been described being "more of a political thing". As of 1996, the procedure was changed and most recently codified in 1998 in Virginia Code, Sec. 7.1–43, as follows: :''7.1-43. Poet laureate. :''The honorary position of Poet Laureate of Virginia is hereby created. Beginning in 1998, the Governor may appoint a poet laureate from a list of nominees submitted by the Poetry Society of Virginia. Each poet laureate shall serve a term of two years with no restrictions on reappointment.'' :''(1997, c. 299.)'' The Virginia General Assembly now confirms the

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

's appointment. As of 2020, the current Poet Laureate of Virginia is Luisa Igloria.

List of Poets Laureate of Virginia

Current Poet Laureate: * Luisa Igloria (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2022) Former Poets Laureate: * Henry Hart (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020) *

Tim Seibles Tim Seibles (born 1955) is an American poet, professor and the former Poet Laureate of Virginia. He is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently, ''Voodoo Libretto: New and Selected Poems'' (Etruscan Press, 2022). His honors include ...

(July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018) * Ron Smith (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2016) * Sofia Starnes (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2014) *

Kelly Cherry Kelly Cherry (December 21, 1940 – March 18, 2022) was a novelist, poet, essayist, professor, and literary critic *

Claudia Emerson Claudia Emerson (January 13, 1957 – December 4, 2014) was an American poet. She won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection ''Late Wife'', and was named the Poet Laureate of Virginia by Governor Tim Kaine in 2008. Early life Emerso ...

(August 26, 2008 – June 30, 2010) * Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda (June 26, 2006 – June 30, 2008) *

Rita Dove Rita Frances Dove (born August 28, 1952) is an American poet and essayist. From 1993 to 1995, she served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. She is the first African American to have been appointed since the positi ...

(September 20, 2004 – June 25, 2006) * George Garrett (July 9, 2002 – June 30, 2004) * Grace Pow Simpson (2000–2002) *

Joseph Awad Joseph Frederick Awad (May 17, 1929 – July 17, 2009) was a poet, painter, public relations professional, and executive. He was appointed national president of the Public Relations Society of America in 1982 and Poet Laureate of Virginia in 1998 ...

(1998–2000) * Margaret Ward Morland (1996–1998) * Kathryn Forrester Thro (July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1996) *

Guy Carleton Drewry Guy Carleton Drewry (May 21, 1901 - August 3, 1991) was an American writer and poet. He served a life appointment as the Poet Laureate of Virginia from 1970 to 1991. His novels include ''The Writhen Wood'', ''Cloud Above Clocktime'', and ''To Love ...

(1970–1991) *

Ruby Altizer Roberts Ruby Altizer Roberts (April 22, 1907 – May 24, 2004) was a writer and the first female Poet Laureate of Virginia. Personal life Roberts was born in Alum Ridge, Virginia in 1907. When she was still a child her family moved to Cambria, Vir ...

(1950; poet laureate emerita, 1992) *

Leigh Buckner Hanes Leigh may refer to: Places In England Pronounced : * Leigh, Greater Manchester, Borough of Wigan ** Leigh (UK Parliament constituency) * Leigh-on-Sea, Essex Pronounced : * Leigh, Dorset * Leigh, Gloucestershire * Leigh, Kent * Leigh, Staffo ...

(1949) *

Thomas Lomax Hunter Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the Ap ...

(1948) * Charles Day (1942–1948) *

Carter Warner Wormeley Carter(s), or Carter's, Tha Carter, or The Carter(s), may refer to: Geography United States * Carter, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Carter, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Carter, Montana, a census-designated place * Carte ...

(1936–1938)

References

External links

Poet Laureate of Virginia
from the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...

Welcome to Poet Laureate of Virginia Information Page
(archived from The Poetry Society of Virginia website) {{VA Poets Laureate, state=autocollapse Virginia culture 1936 establishments in Virginia American Poets Laureate

List of Poets Laureate of Virginia

See also

References

External links