Governor Katie Hobbs Appoints Laura Tohe as Arizona Poet Laureate

Phoenix, AZ ~ Phoenix, AZ - In a press conference held today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Dr. Laura Tohe as the new Poet Laureate for the State of Arizona. This prestigious position, established in 2012, is appointed by the Governor to promote American poetry, inspire emerging literary artists, and educate Arizonans about influential poets and authors in the state. Dr. Tohe is only the second person in Arizona's history to hold this title.

Governor Hobbs expressed her excitement about appointing Dr. Tohe, stating that she has distinguished herself as a poet, librettist, and writer of both fiction and nonfiction throughout her career. She described Dr. Tohe as a storyteller whose words reflect the heart, history, and hopes of Arizona. The Governor believes that as Poet Laureate, Dr. Tohe will continue to uphold Arizona's tradition of creativity and inspire future generations of writers.

In response to her appointment, Dr. Tohe expressed deep gratitude and honor for being named Arizona State Poet Laureate. Growing up on the Navajo Nation Homeland surrounded by stories inspired her to write poetry later in life. She never imagined receiving such a prestigious honor but is excited about the opportunity to share and support poetry in rural communities across Arizona.

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Dr. Tohe was born in Fort Defiance, Arizona and grew up speaking both Diné bizaad/Navajo language and English. She is a professor emerita of English at Arizona State University where she taught for 24 years before serving as Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation from 2015 to 2019.

Her work has been published nationally and internationally, including her oral history book "Code Talker Stories," which features interviews with Navajo Code Talkers and their descendants. Dr. Tohe has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025, the Academy of Poets Fellowship Award for 2020-2021, and the American Indian Festival of Words Writer's Award in 2019. She also holds a doctoral degree in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Arizona Commission on the Arts facilitated the nomination and selection process for the Poet Laureate position. Nominations were open to the public, and a five-member committee chaired by Nicole Dahl, one of the agency's 15 Governor-appointed commissioners, reviewed all nominees. The committee evaluated each nominee based on their artistic strength, experience in public presentation and education of poetry, history of community engagement, and ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the role.

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The committee members included poet Amber McCrary, Programs Manager at AZ Humanities; Dr. Dexter Booth, Residential English Faculty at Paradise Valley Community College; poet Raquel Gutiérrez; Lawrence Lenhart, Associate Chair of English at Northern Arizona University; and Tyler Mitchell, Teaching artist and Editor at Salina Bookshelf Inc.

The panelists were impressed by Dr. Tohe's stature in the literary community, citing her previous role as Navajo Nation Poet Laureate, her professorship at Arizona State University, and her award-winning published work. They also noted her extensive experience working with communities across Arizona.

As per state legislation, Dr. Tohe will serve a two-year term as Arizona Poet Laureate. During this time, she will give public readings in various regions of the state and pursue a major literary project. The position was previously held by Alberto Álvaro Ríos from 2014 to 2018.

In conclusion, Governor Hobbs' appointment of Dr. Laura Tohe as Arizona Poet Laureate has been met with excitement and anticipation from both the literary community and Arizonans alike. With her talent for storytelling and passion for poetry, Dr. Tohe is sure to leave a lasting impact on the state's literary landscape.

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