Clevelander Dave Lucas became the Ohio Poet Laureatein January 2018. Lucas succeeds Dr. Amit Majmudar of Columbus, the state's first poet laureate after Governor Kasich created the position in 2014.
As poet laureate, part of Lucas' mission is to advocate for a broadening of our understanding of poetry, so we might come to see its presence in the everyday—in slang, jargon, song lyrics, our own emails, and maybe even our shopping lists. Maybe that last one is a stretch. But, during his two-year term, he will traverse the state encouraging Ohioans to read, write, and experience poetry.
Dave Lucas
Ohio Poet Laureate
Thrity Umrigar
Professor of English, Case Western Reserve University
