Poet Laureate of Virginia

The position of Poet Laureate of Virginia was established December 18, 1936 by the Virginia General Assembly.^[1]

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".^[2]

As of 1996, the procedure was changed^[2] and most recently codified in 1998 in Virginia Code, Sec. 7.1–43, as follows:^[1]

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.)^[1]

The Virginia General Assembly now confirms the governor's appointment.^[3]

List of poets laureate of Virginia

Luisa A. Igloria was poet laureate in 2020.

Current poet laureate:

• Mattie Quesenberry Smith (named Nov 26, 2024)^[4]

Former poets laureate:

• Margaret O. Daramola (May 5, 2023 - Nov 25, 2024)^[5]
• Luisa Igloria (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2022)^[6]
• Henry Hart (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020)^[7]
• Tim Seibles (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018)^[8]
• Ron Smith (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2016)^[9]
• Sofia Starnes (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2014)^[10]
• Kelly Cherry (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2012)^[11]
• Claudia Emerson (August 26, 2008 – June 30, 2010)^[12]
• Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda (June 26, 2006 – June 30, 2008)^[13]
• Rita Dove (September 20, 2004 – June 25, 2006)^[14]
• George Garrett (July 9, 2002 – June 30, 2004)^[15]
• Grace Pow Simpson (2000–2002)^[16]
• Joseph Awad (1998–2000)^[2]
• Margaret Ward Morland (1996–1998)^[2][17]
• Kathryn Forrester Thro (July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1996)^[18]
• Guy Carleton Drewry (1970–1991)^[19]
• Ruby Altizer Roberts (1950; poet laureate emerita, 1992)^[20]
• Leigh Buckner Hanes (1949)^[21][22]
• Thomas Lomax Hunter (1948)^{[23][21][24][25]}
• Charles Day (1942–1948)^[3][26]
• Carter Warner Wormeley (1936–1938)^[27]

See also

• Virginia literature