Elizabeth Luoma, North Haven’s newly appointed poet laureate, brings a unique background to her two-year role. While she holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, along with advanced degrees in cell biology from Yale University, she does not have a degree in English. Despite this, Luoma believes her unconventional path could inspire others to explore poetry, even if they don’t come from traditional literary backgrounds.
Luoma, 37, who grew up in Shelton and moved to North Haven eight years ago, currently serves as the executive director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Sacred Heart University. In an interview, she expressed that her diverse background might encourage others—both young and old—to venture into the world of poetry, an art form that can sometimes feel intimidating.
Poetry has been an important part of Luoma’s life since childhood. She calls it her “chosen form of writing,” and it has played a significant role in her self-expression for years. When she applied for the poet laureate position, which she learned about through an advertisement, Luoma reflected on her personal experiences with poetry. She recalled sifting through old papers in her childhood home after the recent passing of her parents.
“From school assignments to birthday cards, sentimental gifts to lovesick high school journaling, I have always been drawn to expressing myself through poetry, most frequently through rhyme,” Luoma wrote in her application. “There is a magic in landing upon just the right word or phrase to capture a fleeting thought or emotion, which, when translated to writing, serves as a sort of time capsule; we can return to a particular moment through the feelings poetry captures, much like the sight of a photograph or the scent of a piece of clothing.”
Among the memories she unearthed was her 1999 first-place poem, “Suddenly you turn around and…”, which won the National Merit award from the National PTA’s Reflections Program. She also discovered her 2005 Shelton High School valedictory address, written entirely in rhyme and featured in local newspapers, along with years of poetry drafts and scribblings.
“The love was always there,” Luoma said, reflecting on her lifelong connection to poetry. “As an adult, it became more of a side-love. When I saw the ad, I knew it was something I had to try.”
Now, as poet laureate, Luoma hopes to use her experiences in poetry, teaching, and public speaking to engage the community, promote the joys of poetry, and encourage others to discover their own creative voices.
Related topics: