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Omaha Author, Daughter of Husker Football Great Named State Poet

January 8, 2025 12:01AM CST
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Governor Jim Pillen poses with Nebraska's new state poet Jewel Rodgers in the Governor's Hearing Room on Jan. 6, 2025. Also standing second from the right in First Lady Suzanne Pillen and seated holding the phone and taking video is former Nebraska football star and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, Jewel's father. (Courtesy of the Governor's Office)
Omaha author Jewel Rodgers on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 was named Nebraska’s new State Poet by Governor Jim Pillen. (Courtesy of the Governor’s Office)

LINCOLN–(KFOR Jan. 7)–An Omaha author and performer is Nebraska’s new state poet.

Governor Jim Pillen on Monday appointed 27-year-old Jewel Rodgers to be the state poet and she is the youngest and first African American person in Nebraska to hold the position. Rodgers was one of five finalists to be State Poet. She has already received local and national recognition for her spoken word poetry and has performed in schools, festivals, community settings, conferences, public events and other venues.

Rodgers has written and performed for the city of Omaha, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Omaha and upon request for public officials like Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Congressman Don Bacon and Pillen. Rodgers’ father is Nebraska football great and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers.

In her role as state poet, which lasts for five years and can be renewed, Jewel Rodgers will travel the state to promote poetry, reading and youth engagement.

Rodgers follows a relatively short line of designated state poets, which began with John G. Neihardt becoming the Nebraska poet laureate in 1921 through passage of a legislative resolution. State poets appointed by governors have included William C. Kloefkorn (1982), Twyla M. Hansen (2013) and Matt Mason, who was named in 2019.
The selection process is coordinated through the Nebraska Arts Council, Humanities Nebraska and the Nebraska Library Commission. A committee oversees the criteria, submission requirements and selection procedure, from which finalists are selected and interviewed.

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