Governor Matt Bevin has named a Louisville poet, author and educator as the 2017-18 Kentucky Poet Laureate. The Kentucky Arts Council said in a release on Tuesday Bevin has appointed Frederick Smock.
His formal induction ceremony is on Kentucky Writers’ Day, May 1, in Frankfort.
Smock said he is “thrilled” about the appointment and said in his role he wants to “bring poetry to everyone.”
He has authored 10 books of poetry and essays and has earned several awards for his writing and teaching, including the Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship in poetry in 1995.
He is an Associate Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Bellarmine University.