Hickenlooper Selects New Colorado Poet Laureate

DENVER (AP) - Denver native Joseph Hutchison will be Colorado's eighth poet laureate.

Gov. John Hickenlooper made the announcement Tuesday outside the state Capitol.

The state's poet laureate advocates for poetry, literacy, and literature across the state at schools, libraries, and festivals. The appointment lasts four years.

Hutchison is the author of more than a dozen book collections of poetry and has taught classes from elementary through high school in Colorado and Oregon.

Hutchison says one of his goals will be developing and making resources available for teachers to integrate poetry into the classroom. He is replacing David Mason of Colorado Springs, the co-director of creative writing at Colorado College.

LINK: Joseph Hutchison On Facebook

John Hickenlooper