Athens educator, UGA graduate announced as new poet laureate

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
·1 min read
Mikhayla Robinson Smith was named Poet Laureate of Athens, Ga. on Mar. 6, 2024. Smith’s first official appearance as Poet Laureate will be at the Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade on Saturday, Mar. 16 at Dudley Park.
Mikhayla Robinson Smith was named Poet Laureate of Athens, Ga. on Mar. 6, 2024. Smith’s first official appearance as Poet Laureate will be at the Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade on Saturday, Mar. 16 at Dudley Park.

The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission on Wednesday announced author and educator Mikhayla Robinson Smith as the Poet Laureate of Athens.

Smith graduated from the University of Georgia’s English program in 2020 and currently teaches first grade in the Clarke County School District. As a poet, spoken word artist, essayist and parent, Smith is focused on making poetic literature more accessible to the Athens community, and particularly for young people.

Smith's work has been published in several publications including the Toho Journal Online, Philadelphia Stories, and Latefee Magazine, and her first poetry chapbook, "Dichotomy," was published by Nightingale and Sparrow Press.

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Back in September, the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Arts Division issued an open call for Poet Laureate applications, a two-year position that was first served by Jeff Fallis from 2021-2023. Smith's term as poet laureate will be from 2024-2026, and her first performance is scheduled to take place at the Flight of the Fireflies Lantern Parade at 7:30 p.m. at Dudley Park on Mar. 16.

The Poet Laureate program is administered by the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Arts Division, and was introduced in 2020. The applications are reviewed by a selection panel that is made up of local residents, educators, librarians, and other literary arts professionals. The panel's decision is based on excellence in craftsmanship, professional vision for the position, professional achievement and history of community engagement.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Educator Mikhayla Robinson Smith named Poet Laureate of Athens