NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, along with Gov. Jeff Landry, announced Louisiana’s newest Poet Laureate, Gina Ferrara. Following Alison Pelegrin’s successful tenure as Poet Laureate from 2023 through August 13 of this year, Ferrara assumed the post on Aug. 14 and will serve for two years.
“Gina Ferrara’s work captures the heart and soul of Louisiana,” said First Lady Sharon Landry. “Through her poetry, she celebrates our communities, our stories, and our culture in a way that is both heartfelt and profound. I know her tenure as Poet Laureate will inspire countless Louisianans to discover and embrace their own creative voices.”
Ferrara, an associate professor of English at Delgado Community College, lives in New Orleans and has five poetry collections. Her latest, “Amiss,” was published by Dos Madres Press in 2023. Her work has appeared in many journals including Callaloo, The Poetry Ireland Review, Tar River, The Southern Review, and was nominated for a Best of the Net and a Pushcart Award in 2024. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Fine Arts from the University of New Orleans…