Arkansas is a state rich with talented poets, both past and present. Defining Arkansas poetry was at the forefront of the project, and by collecting oral interviews, the students were able to piece together what makes Arkansas a special place for poets to prosper, grow and inspire. They interviewed nine Arkansas poets about their lives and their work, then created podcast episodes around poetry in the Natural State. Here you can find the podcast episodes, the interviews, and poetry readings by the poets themselves.

The Podcast:

In Episode 1 you are introduced to the hosts as they discuss how the project came to fruition and what inspired the students to focus on poets in Arkansas. This episode is hosted by Alessandro Salemme, with Miceala Morano, Janna Morse, and Ella Scurlock.

In Episode 2 the students explore the themes of geography and place, featuring excerpts from some of the interviews conducted for the Poets in Arkansas Oral History Project. This episode is hosted by Miceala Morano, with Alessandro Salemme, Janna Morse, and Ella Scurlock.

In Episode 3 the students explore the theme of Representation and how it is showcased through the poet’s writing and community work, featuring excerpts from some of the interviews conducted for the Poets in Arkansas Oral History Project. This episode is hosted by Janna Morse, with Alessandro Salemme, Miceala Morano, and Ella Scurlock.

The Poets:

Suzanne Rhodes is a prestigious poet who has not only published various poetry collections, but also received several awards and nominations for her poems. She was appointed as the current Arkansas Poet Laureate in 2022. She originally hails from New York, but resides in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from James Madison University and a Master of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University. Suzanne’s poems have been featured in countless journals, magazines, anthologies, and other publications and have received endless praise from other authors and professors. Presently, Suzanne teaches workshops and presents readings both virtually for the Muse Writing Center in Virginia, but also in person right here in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Sandy Longhorn is the associate chair of the film/theater and creative writing department at the University of Central Arkansas. She received her bachelor’s at the College of Saint Benedict and her MFA in poetry at the University of Arkansas, after which she has lived in Arkansas working at various universities. She has three books of poetry published and numerous awards for her work.

Claire Scott is a poet candidate in the University of Arkansas MFA program in Creative Writing and translation. She has poems published or forthcoming in Booth, Hobart, West Trade Review and others. Scott is the Arkansas International’s poetry editor and is on Nimrod International Journal’s editorial board. She also does stand-up comedy in Arkansas.

Kai Coggin is an award-winning poet and the inaugural poet laureate of the city of Hot Springs. She is a widely known poet who also hosts Wednesday Night Poetry, the longest-running consecutive weekly open-mic series in the country, in Hot Springs and is the author of five poetry collections, most recently Mother of Other Kingdoms. She is also a K-12 teaching artist in poetry with the Arkansas Arts Council. She also serves on the board of directors of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

Seth Pennington is an Arkansas native and poet, as well as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sibling Rivalry Press – an independent publishing house, based in Little Rock, that aims to ‘disturb and enrapture’. Pennington is also the author of Tertulia, which was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer chapbook award. He is also the editor of Stonewall 50, which highlights the work of 21 poets connected by Arkansas on queer life after the Stonewall riots. Among his immense literary achievements, he was a 2019 Open-Mouth Poetry retreat fellow and the recipient of the Richard Stanley Cooper Literary Award for creative writing.

John McPherson is an Arkansas native and prolific poet, currently living in Searcy. He serves as the current president of the Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas, founded in 1931, as well as the president of the Gin Creek Poets branch in Searcy. McPherson began writing contests in his mid-seventies and has enjoyed great success since. He has earned several awards for his work and been published in anthologies and publications inside and outside of Arkansas.

Greg Brownderville is an Arkansas native, currently living in Texas, where he teaches at Southern Methodist University as a professor of English and works and teaches in the creative writing program. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Southwest Review, has three successful published books, and is an alumnus of Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Mississippi, where he received his MFA. Greg is a Southerner, with experience in writing across the South.

CD Eskilson is a poet, editor, and translator pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry at the University of Arkansas. They also work as an editor for Split Lip magazine, on the editorial board of the Exposition Review, and work with the Open Mouth Literary Center, an organization dedicated to fostering connections among northwest Arkansas poets. They have received much praise for their work, including the C. D. Wright Academy of American Poets prize, and have their debut poetry collection Scream Queen coming out in 2025.

Amelie Langland is a poet and instructor at the University of Arkansas. She grew up in Alabama but has come to make Arkansas her home. She received her MFA in poetry from the University of Arkansas, where she went on to be awarded with the Carolyn F. Walton Cole Fellowship. Additionally, she is the associate editor-in-poetry at Iron Horse Literary Review. She has had her poetry featured in numerous reviews and magazines, including the minnesota review, Measure Review and the Texas Review Press to name a few.

Miceala Morano

Miceala Morano is a sophomore and second-year Bob and Ruth Shipley Fellow studying English and Journalism. She has a keen interest in strengthening and developing her anthropological research and interview skills while promoting and uplifting the growing arts scene in Fayetteville.

Ella Scurlock

Ella Scurlock is a Junior Honors College Fellow studying history, anthropology, and religious studies at the University of Arkansas. Her focus of discipline allows her the opportunity to explore the cultural exchange, social dynamics, and individual bonds that make up a community.

Janna Morse

Janna Morse is an Honors College Path Program sophomore currently studying International and Global Studies, with a concentration on peace, security, and human rights. Whilst her studies are not directly linked to history, she has a passion for being involved in learning about modern projects and how they bring life to specific environments.

April Trotter

April Trotter is an Honors College member and first year freshman. She is currently studying English with a deep fondness for creative writing. She brings contagious enthusiasm into conversations about literature and expanding its popularity in her community one creative piece at a time.