State gets new poet laureate

Posted at 2:35 PM on August 23, 2011 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Mark Dayton, State Government

Gov. Mark Dayton has selected an English professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter to serve as the state's new poet laureate.

Joyce Sutphen of Chaska is the second person to hold that official position, which the Legislature created in 2007. She replaces Robert Bly, who then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed. During a State Capitol news conference today, Sutphen said many people contribute to the state of poetry in Minnesota.

"A plethora of publishers, large and small, that provide us with beautiful books and journals," Sutphen said. "The people who organize readings, who work in the schools, who put poems into the parks, into galleries, and on sidewalks and in film and on the radio. And all those who take time to read and write poetry."

As poet laureate, Sutphen will serve as the state's primary spokesperson, supporter and promoter of poetry. She'll work with the Minnesota Humanities Center to organize a poetry event in the coming months.

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