Ithaca-based poet Dan Rosenberg has been appointed as the 12th Poet Laureate of Tompkins County. The county legislature selected him for a two-year term in February, recognizing his contributions to literature and poetry.
Rosenberg, a senior visiting lecturer in literatures in English at Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences, sees poetry as a way to connect and reflect. “I believe poetry offers us valuable opportunities to slow down, to reflect, and to extend our empathy, and I’m excited to share these gifts with our whole community,” he said.
A Celebrated Poet and Educator
Rosenberg has published three poetry books: Bassinet (2022), cadabra (2015), and The Crushing Organ (2012), all released by respected literary presses. He has also authored two chapbooks, Thigh’s Hollow (2015) and A Thread of Hands (2010), and co-translated Hippodrome by Miklavž Komelj (2016). His work has earned prestigious awards, including the American Poetry Journal Book Prize and the Omnidawn Poetry Chapbook Contest.
A Commitment to Literary Community
Before joining Cornell, Rosenberg was chair of the English department at Wells College. During his tenure, he organized a visiting writers series, managed the national Wells College Press Chapbook Contest, and established the Visiting Artists Program, furthering his dedication to fostering literary engagement.
As Poet Laureate, Rosenberg aims to bring poetry to the broader Tompkins County community, encouraging appreciation for the art form and inspiring others to embrace its power.
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