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UC Riverside

Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA

Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

Lori Davis Named Palm Desert Poet Laureate

Program Alum is the City's First Poet Laureate
September 25, 2023

It's with great pleasure that we extend our congratulations to Lori Davis (MFA, '12) who has been named the first Poet Laureate for the City of Palm Desert, as the city announced last week: 

The City of Palm Desert is proud to announce the selection of its first-ever Poet Laureate, Lori Davis, an esteemed individual whose mission is to elevate the literary arts and foster creative expression within the City. This prestigious appointment reflects the City's commitment to promoting culture and creativity as vital elements of our vibrant community. 
The Palm Desert Poet Laureate will serve as an ambassador of poetry and literature, actively engaging in ceremonial, educational, and community activities to uplift the artistic achievement of the City. She’ll provide access to poetry, raise awareness of the art form, and encourage individuals to develop their own creative interests. 
The appointment of a Poet Laureate is a significant step in fostering a deeper connection between the City of Palm Desert and its longstanding artistic heritage. Lori will carry the torch of literary excellence and serve as an inspirational figure, unifying the community through the beauty of words. 

 

"Lori was one of our very first students," program director Tod Goldberg said, "but she's been an essential part of the arts community in the desert for decades. I can't imagine a better person to take this role on and to define it for future Poet Laureates. We look forward to welcoming Lori back to our next MFA residency -- our fifteen year anniversary -- where she'll be performing a brand new poem as part of the celebration." 

About Lori Davis: 

Lori Davis is a poet, artist, and educator. She has enjoyed living and working in the Coachella Valley for over 28 years. She received her MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry from the University of California Riverside, Palm Desert. Her personal mission is to create practical ways to draw people toward poetry, rather than away from it. This passion for the written and spoken word has taken her across the globe to locations such as Greenland to study Inuit poetry and to one of Europe’s oldest universities, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. She is the author of two chapbooks and her work has been published in many national literary journals, including Green Mountains Review, Salt Hill, Atlanta Review, and Cream City Review.  

 

 

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