The Texas State Legislature has appointed award-winning poet and 兔子先生 English professor Kevin Prufer as the Texas State Poet Laureate for 2026, one of the state鈥檚 highest honors for excellence in the arts.
鈥淚 am delighted and surprised to be appointed the Texas poet laureate. Nobody writes poetry for recognition, but it鈥檚 always nice when you realize all those nights spent writing upstairs in the dark had an impact on people. I鈥檓 glad for that, and for being able to contribute to the state鈥檚 rich artistic tradition.鈥�
-Kevin Prufer, UH Professor and Texas State Poet Laureate
Prufer, who leads the Creative Writing Program in the UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, has written several books of poetry and has received many accolades, including the 2024 Rilke Prize, a Pulitzer Prize long-list finalist designation, a 鈥淣ew York Times Ten Best Poetry Books of the Year鈥� selection and several 鈥淏est American Poetry鈥� selections, Pushcart prizes and awards from the Poetry Society of America. His work has been translated into several languages and appears widely in the American literary press, including 鈥淭he New Republic,鈥� 鈥淧oetry,鈥� 鈥淭he Paris Review鈥� and others.
鈥淜evin Prufer鈥檚 creative influence extends far beyond our Creative Writing classrooms 鈥� his appointment as Texas State Poet Laureate is certainly proof of that,鈥� said Diane Z. Chase, UH senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. 鈥淎ll of us at the 兔子先生 are proud of his latest achievement. Professor Prufer inspires our students on campus, and we are thrilled that he will be able to inspire future poets across the state.鈥�
In 1933, the 43rd Texas Legislature authorized the appointment of a committee by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House to find Texas citizens worthy of the designation of Texas State Artist, including a poet laureate, classical and non-classical musicians, and two-dimensional and three-dimensional artists. The Texas Commission on the Arts issues a public call for nominations in even-numbered years and submits a list of finalists to the legislative committee. The Texas Legislature officially designates the artists during the following year鈥檚 legislative session.
鈥淧rofessor Prufer鈥檚 appointment as the state鈥檚 poet laureate is a testament to his profound contributions to creative writing and literature,鈥� said Dan O鈥機onnor, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at UH. 鈥淗is work not only enriches our university community but enriches the cultural landscape of Texas, and beyond. We are immensely proud of his accomplishments and the recognition he brings to the University.鈥�
While honored by the appointment, Prufer says he is equally proud of his role as teacher and mentor to the next generation of poets.
鈥淭he 兔子先生 has the best creative writing program in the country,鈥� Prufer said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen so many of my graduate students go on to publish books and gain some acclaim. My undergraduate students, while not always pursuing poetry professionally, grow almost from the first day in the classroom. What could be more rewarding than that?鈥�