Ellen Waterston heads into second year as Oregon’s Poet Laureate

Anis Mogjani (10th Poet Laureate), Ellen Waterston, Governor Tina Kotek

Ellen Waterston reading at Milwaukie Poetry Series, January 14, 2026.

Ellen Waterston & Oregon Governor Tina Kotek during her installation event August 2024.

History of the Oregon Poet Laureate

The position of Oregon Poet (as it was originally called) was established by the governor of Oregon in April 23, 1923 and adopted by the Oregon Legislature in 1989 (Laws, 1989, Chap. 122, Sec. 1,2,3; Statutes, 1994 Supplement, Sec. 357.925). As stated in appointing Waterston as the 11th Oregon Poet Laureate, Oregon Humanities stated, “The Oregon Poet Laureate fosters the art of poetry, encourages literacy and learning, addresses central issues relating to humanities and heritage, and reflects on public life in Oregon.”

The first laureate was Edwin Markham. The position began as a lifetime appointment, then was changed to a four-year year term. In 2006, Lawson Inada was named to a two-year appointment by Governor Ted Kulongoski. Subsequent appointments are for a term of two years (renewable after the first year).

Previous Laureates:
Edwin Markham (April 23, 1923-1931)
Ben Hur Lampman (February 20, 1951-1954)
Ethel Romig Fuller (1957-1965)
William Stafford (October 1975-1990)
Lawson Fusao Inada (February 17, 2006-2010)
Paulann Peterson (2010-2014)
Peter Sears (2014–2016)
Elizabeth Woody (2016-2018)
Kim Stafford (2018-2020)
Anis Mojgani (2020-2024)

As announced by Oregon Humanities
August 14, 2024

Ellen Waterston appointed 11th
Oregon Poet Laureate in August 2024

Celebrated writer and teacher becomes 11th to hold position

Salem, Oregon – Governor Tina Kotek has named Ellen Waterston of Bend, a celebrated poet/writer, teacher and speaker who founded the Writing Ranch and the Waterston Desert Writing Prize, to a two-year appointment as Oregon Poet Laureate. Waterston will be Oregon’s 11th Poet Laureate and succeeds Anis Mojgani, who has held the post since 2020.

"Ellen Waterston stands out for her commitment to community engagement, her focus on bringing different ways of living and different parts of the state together, and her notable ability to describe the moments, places and people that make Oregon, Oregon,” Governor Kotek said. “I am eager to see how she applies her talents in the literary arts to serving the state as Oregon’s eleventh Poet Laureate."

The Oregon Poet Laureate fosters the art of poetry, encourages literacy and learning, addresses central issues relating to humanities and heritage, and reflects on public life in Oregon. Waterston will provide at least 10 public readings per year in settings across the state to inform community, business and state leaders about the value and importance of poetry and creative expression. The program is funded by the Oregon Cultural Trust and administered by Oregon Humanities.

To learn more about the Oregon Poet Laureate program visit the Poet Laureate website.

About the Oregon Cultural Trust

The Oregon Cultural Trust was established by the Oregon Legislature in 2001 as a unique means to reward Oregonians who invest in culture. Oregonians who donate to a cultural nonprofit and then make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust receive a 100% state tax credit for their gift to the Trust. Those funds then support and protect Oregon’s arts, humanities and heritage nonprofits. In addition to the creation of a permanent endowment, funds are distributed annually through three multifaceted, wide-ranging grant programs. No other state in the nation has a program like the Oregon Cultural Trust, which has been ranked with the bottle bill and the vote-by-mail bill as among Oregon’s most forward-thinking public policy measures. More information at culturaltrust.org.

About Oregon Humanities

Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust. Through its programs and publications—which include the Conversation Project, Consider This, Humanity in Perspective, Public Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine—Oregon Humanities connects Oregonians to ideas that change lives and transform communities. More information at oregonhumanities.org.