December 24, 2009

Gov. Nixon establishes procedure for selecting new poet laureate, encourages Missourians to submit nominations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today signed an executive order establishing the procedure that will be used to select Missouri's second poet laureate.

"Missouri has produced generations of powerful, inspirational and compelling poets and writers, including such timeless bards as Samuel Clemens, Maya Angelou and Laura Ingalls Wilder," Gov. Nixon said.  "By selecting a poet laureate, we pay tribute to these brilliant artists, and we hope to inspire the poets and authors of the future.  Georganne and I look forward to working closely with the selection committee to identify a poet laureate who reflects the great traditions, richness and diversity of our state and will help fulfill this important educational mission."

Missouri's next poet laureate will be named in January 2010 and serve a term of two years without compensation.  Under the Governor's executive order, the poet laureate must be a resident of Missouri; be a published poet; be active in the poetry community; and be willing and able to promote poetry in the state throughout the two-year term.  The poet laureate will be responsible for promoting the arts by making appearances at public schools and libraries, and will compose an original poem in honor of Missouri.

The new appointee will succeed Walter Bargen, who is completing his term as Missouri's first poet laureate.  Bargen, who was named poet laureate in 2008, is the author of more than 10 books of poetry, and his work has appeared in more than 100 magazine publications.  He has worked for more than 20 years at the University of Missouri-Columbia as a senior coordinator for the Assessment Resource Center. 

An advisory committee, including three representatives of the Missouri Center for the Book and two members appointed by the Governor, will solicit, publicize and encourage nominations for this post.  First Lady Georganne Wheeler Nixon is serving as honorary chair of the advisory committee.  The committee will be charged with developing additional selection criteria, reviewing and evaluating the nominations, and recommending candidates for appointment to the Governor.  Members of the advisory committee must have expertise in contemporary American poetry and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

The members of the advisory committee are:

• Thomas F. Dillingham is Professor Emeritus of English at Central Methodist University; he also taught English for 30 years at Stephens College. He has published essays on 18^th-century and Romantic British literature as well as on 20^th-century poetry. He has written numerous reviews of contemporary poetry.
• Kris Kleindienst is co-owner of Left Bank Books, an independently-owned bookstore with two locations in St. Louis, where she has worked for 35 of its 40 years. Kleindienst has also served as a judge for the Lambda Literary Awards for many of their 21 years. These awards are given annually in several categories for excellence in LGBT publishing.
• Carl Phillips is the author of 10 books of poetry, most recently Speak Low (2009) and Quiver of Arrows: Selected Poems 1986-2006 (2007). His honors include awards and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Library of Congress, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Academy of American Poets, to which he was named a Chancellor in 2007. He is Professor of English at Washington University in St. Louis.
• Kevin Prufer is the author of four poetry collections, the most recent of which are Fallen from a Chariot (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2005) and National Anthem (Four Way Books, 2008), the latter of which was named one of the year's five best poetry books by Publishers Weekly. He also is editor of New European Poets (Graywolf Press, 2008) and Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing, among others. The recipient of three Pushcart prizes, two Best American Poetry selections, and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, he lives in Warrensburg.
• Cheryl D. S. Walker is a native St. Louisan who, in addition to being a poet, practices law with Bryan Cave LLP. Her poetry chapter book, Silence Isn't Quiet, was published by River King Poetry Press. Cheryl's works have appeared in Mischief, Caprice and Other Poetic Strategies (Red Hen Press), Drumvoices Revue (Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville), St. Louis Muse (St. Louis Urban League), Break Word With The World (Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville), Eyeball Magazine (First Civilizations, Inc.) and When the Lions Roar (Washington University). The St. Louis Women's Chorale and Equinox Chamber Players recently performed A Love Supreme, a poem written by Cheryl for which Dr. Barbara Harbach composed chorale and chamber music.

The Executive Order establishing the poet laureate is No. 09-28.