The Indiana Arts Commission conducts a statewide call for submissions to nominate a state poet laureate to represent the state and the craft of poetry. This individual is responsible for developing and putting in place programming that emphasizes the art form.
IU alumna Shari Wagner received the title of Indiana state poet laureate after being chosen by the selection committee, made up of representatives from each of Indiana’s institutions of higher education.
Wagner has written two poetry books and has an MFA in creative writing from IU, according to a press release.
The release states that Wagner will begin her duties as poet laureate in January. She will serve for two years.
Wagner brings to the job a few international cross-cultural experiences in Somalia, Kenya, Haiti and Honduras as well as domestic cross-cultural experiences that tie into her interest in Native American history and folklore.
As poet laureate, Wagner said in the release she will travel and promote Indiana poetry and spread the love of writing and reading poetry across schools, parks, libraries and more.
She said the prospect of working on such projects during Indiana’s upcoming bicentennial and the centennial of Indiana’s state parks will provide an area of focus — the thread that connects nature and history to poetry.
Wagner was born in Goshen, Indiana, and grew up in rural Wells County, according to the release. She now teaches poetry and memoir writing at the Indiana Writers Center and literature for Butler University’s Religion, Spirituality and the Arts seminar.
Wagner’s work, published in books titled “The Harmonist at Nightfall: Poems of Indiana” and “Evening Chore,” according to the release. She has also been featured Ted Kooser’s column, “American Life in Poetry” and in Garrison Keillor’s radio program, “The Writer’s Almanac.”
Sanya Ali
