New York State Poet

Job description
The position of State Poet was created in 1985 by Act of the State Legislature. A new State Poet is appointed by the governor, on the recommendation of an advisory panel, every two years for a two-year term. The State Poet is awarded the Walt Whitman Certificate of Merit, which comes with an honorarium of $10,000.

State poets

 * 1) Stanley Kunitz (1987-1989)
 * 2) Robert Creeley (1989-1991)
 * 3) Audre Lorde (1991-1993)
 * 4) Richard Howard (1993-1995)
 * 5) Jane Cooper (1995-1997)
 * 6) Sharon Olds (1998-2000)
 * 7) John Ashbery (2001-2003)
 * 8) Billy Collins (2004-2006)
 * 9) Jean Valentine (2008-2010)
 * 10) Fanny Howe (2010-2012)