Joyce Sutphen named Minnesota Poet Laureate

Posted at 1:43 PM on August 23, 2011 by Euan Kerr (11 Comments)
Filed under: Minnesota Poets

(Image courtesy Poetry Foundation)

More details later, but Governor Mark Dayton just named Joyce Sutphen of Chaska Minnesota's new poet laureate. She is a Professor of English at Gustavus Adolphus in St Peter. Published by Red Dragonfly Press, her poems have appeared in Poetry, American Poetry Review, Atlanta Review, Minnesota Monthly, North Dakota Review, and many other journals, and she has been a guest on A Prairie Home Companion.

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Comments (11)

Excellent choice...the world is a better place with Joyce and her poems in it!

Posted by Walter Cannon | August 23, 2011 2:25 PM

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We are so incredibly proud of our friend and colleague. Your work matters and so do you. What an amazing way to celebrate poetry and Minnesota at the same time.

Posted by Rebecca Fremo | August 23, 2011 2:33 PM

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Congratulations to a wonderful woman! I can't think of anyone who deserves it more! Joyce has touched so many lives already, and I'm so glad to hear that she will have the opportunity to reach out to more with this honor.

Posted by Laura Hansen | August 23, 2011 3:09 PM

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Wow, congrats to Joyce, the best prof I never took a class from. She totally deserves it.

Posted by Greg | August 23, 2011 3:16 PM

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Bravo!

Posted by Patricia Kirkpatrick | August 23, 2011 3:31 PM

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Joyce, you were not only one of the best professors I had at Gustavus, but one of the most caring, genuine and kind-hearted people I met there as well. I can think of nobody who deserves this honor as much as you. As Laura said above, you have touched so many lives - I can say with certainty I would never have been an English major had I not taken your First Term Seminar course. Thank you so very much for your dedication and for sharing your talent and passion with everyone.

Posted by Lynn Olson | August 23, 2011 4:07 PM

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It's lovely to see these comments from her students! She is a rare teacher and a Minnesota marvel, and we are very lucky in our state. Congratulations to Joyce, and well done to those who chose her!

Posted by Connie Wanek | August 23, 2011 4:36 PM

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Congratulations to Joyce! I can say for certain that I would not be where I am today--as a person, as a writer, as a student--without Joyce. Her passion for her work and for others is tireless, and as so many have said already: I can think of no one more caring, more sincere, more humble, or more deserving of this honor. Thank you, Joyce.

Posted by Abby Travis | August 23, 2011 5:07 PM

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Congratulations to my sister Joyce! Not only is she an incredible poet, teacher and friend to many, she is a beautiful sister! We all love her so much!

Posted by Nancy Truchinski | August 24, 2011 7:47 AM

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What a wonderful honor for a phenomenal woman! I enjoyed not only Joyce's classes, but her person. She is wonderful and talented, she was and is so inspiring to students and writers! Thank you Joyce, for sharing your passion with us! Woohoo!

Posted by Christina Strey | August 24, 2011 9:21 AM

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Hats off to Joyce...one of my favorite English professors! As E.B. White said in Charlotte's Web, ""It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer."

Posted by Jessie Johnson | August 24, 2011 8:04 PM

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