Mississippi Poet Laureate

The Mississippi Poet Laureate serves as the official state poet, creating and presenting poetry at state occasions and cultural events while promoting literacy and the literary arts. The Poet Laurate is appointed by the Governor for a four-year term in partnership with the Mississippi Arts Commission and other cultural organizations. This role includes:

•  Representing Mississippi’s literary tradition.
• Writing and reading poetry for official events.
• Promoting poetry and literacy through school visits, community programs, and public appearances.
• Serving as Honorary Host for the Poetry Out Load initiative in Mississippi.

To be considered for the role, nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Be born in Mississippi or maintain legal residence in the state at the time of nomination.
• Possess a substantial body of high-quality literary work.
• Have works widely published in books, anthologies, literary journals, or magazines by recognized, reputable publishers (source should be cited in a bibliography).
• Reflect the essence and unique cultural heritage of Mississippi through their writing.
• Be available to travel and actively participate in events across the state.
• Be willing to attend a personal interview with the Poet Laureate Selection Committee if selected as a finalist.

Current Poet Laureate

On May 15th, 2025, Governor Tate Reeves appointed Ann Fisher-Wirth as Mississippi’s Poet Laureate. Ann is an accomplished poet and retired professor from the University of Mississippi, where she taught for 33 years in the MFA program and directed Environmental Studies. She is widely published, a recipient of multiple awards, and an advocate for ecopoetry and the arts. Find out more about Ann Fisher-Wirth at Mississippi Arts Commission website.