5/4/21

A small group of Fort Hays State University students and staff gathered last month in the campus English Programs to celebrate the university’s first Poet Laureate.

Emily Linder, an Overbrook senior, who is graduating with a major in English and a minor in communications, took on the role this year. As the Poet Laureate, Linder spent her time writing poetry and recording readings to post online.

English faculty members Linda McHenry and Dr. Linda Smith brought the idea for the Poet Laureate to Dr. Eric Leuschner the previous semester.

“We certainly appreciate [Linder’s] bravery in taking this on for the semester-and-a-half and setting a good example,” said Leuschner, chair of English Programs.

Leuschner showed attendees a plaque that will list Linder’s name and the names of future Poets Laureate. He also presented Linder with a plaque of her own.

Linder said she enjoyed helping make poetry more accessible to people.

“I’ve been honored to be the first Poet Laureate,” Linder said. “It means so much to me and being able to help figure things out for the position for the department and myself has just been amazing.”

Hays junior Jacob Buckman will take up Linder’s role following her graduation and will remain the FHSU Poet Laureate for two years. A philosophy major, Buckman’s interest in art led him to apply for the position.

Buckman gravitated to poetry because of its reliance on creative minds. As the Poet Laureate, he would like to use outreach to help the community to think critically about poetry.

“We do these wonderful things in philosophy where we share ideas and analyze peoples’ thoughts and ideas and opinions,” he said, “and I think that’s a very effective and beneficial thing to do in poetry.”