Arts Council of Greater Lansing Announces Poet Laureate
Suban Nur Cooley, PhD, Selected for 2026-2028 Term

Suban Nur Cooley has more than a decade of experience, creating and supporting poetry spaces in Greater Lansing, and we are excited to announce her as our next Lansing poet laureate, serving the Greater Lansing region for the 2026-2028 term. She is a strong believer in poetry’s ability to connect people and communities, and her love for the region and the spoken and written word makes her the perfect candidate for poet laureate.

Locally, she is assistant professor in the department of African American and African studies at Michigan State University, and she is deeply embedded in the poetry scene around the region.

“I am deeply honored and excited to serve Greater Lansing as its next poet laureate, not only because I love the written word—but also because I deeply love this community,” said Nur Cooley. “Lansing has long shaped my personal voice and journey, and serving as poet laureate allows me to offer up that voice back to the city, connecting and conversing with others about what makes it so special: its people.”

Bringing people together through poetry was at the heart of the Lansing Poet Laureate Program, which was launched in 2017 by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and the RCAH Center for Poetry at Michigan State University and the Lansing Poetry Club. The program transitioned to the Arts Council of Greater Lansing in 2023, and it continues to expand its outreach by providing access to poetry and fostering community around the art of poetry.

“We are so proud to facilitate the Lansing Poet Laureate Program and welcome Suban to our growing list of Lansing poet laureates,” said Arts Council executive director, Meghan Martin. “This program is so important for our community as it offers opportunities for both emerging and experienced writers across the region to gather in community to explore the art of writing and performing poetry,” Martin said.

The program is made possible by support from LEAP, and management and oversight by the Arts Council. Laureates receive a $4K stipend for their work over the two-year term. “The Lansing Poet Laureate Program, while existing in its space for purposes of contemplation, beauty, and discovery in the world of poetry, also generates significant economic impact like notable national grants to support the arts coming into the region or many packed events with people collecting before and after to enjoy restaurants and drinks and so forth–Poetry exists because it must, but it also has tremendous additional values to an economy–like all arts do,” said Bob Trezise, LEAP president and CEO.

As is tradition, the official “Passing of the Laurel” will mark the transition of the current poet laureate, Ruelaine Stokes, to our new laureate. The event, hosted each year by RCAH Center for Poetry, will take place on April 7, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., at The Robin Theatre. It is open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend and honor the new poet laureate with an evening of poetry, ceremony, and celebration. To learn more about the poet laureate program, visit lansingarts.org.