Joel Long has been named the first poet laureate for Salt Lake City, according to a September 30 report. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced the selection on September 22 during an appearance on the local program KRCL’s RadioACTive.
Long has served as an English and creative writing teacher at Rowland Hall since 2004. His selection followed a competitive process in which his published work and involvement in community literary events were recognized. His most recent book of lyric essays was released in March. During his three-year term, Long intends to promote the literary arts throughout Salt Lake City through various community projects and initiatives designed to expand the perceived spectrum of poetry.
Long's professional background includes significant academic mentorship from Professor James Doyle at the University of Northern Colorado. Long, who also works as a wildlife photographer, has emphasized the importance of discipline in writing, stating that the process requires showing up and putting fingers to the page. Under his leadership, Rowland Hall launched the literary magazine Tesserae in 2005.
The impact of Long's teaching was noted by student Isabel Himoff, who has studied under him for several years. Himoff is currently working on a traveling exhibit of poems and paintings for Stewardship Utah to raise money for Utah wilderness preservation. That exhibit is scheduled to open in November.
As poet laureate, Long aims to help people understand the value of poetry and why it matters to the community.
