Poetry is on the rise in Phoenix, one of the most arts-inspired cities in the country. City officials announced last week that for the first time, the city has appointed a poet laureate to serve as a leader in arts, literature and the community.

The inaugural poet laureate is Rosemarie Dombroski, an artist, poet, and ASU professor. She will begin her two-year term in January, serving an important role as the city seeks to increase it’s involvement in the arts.

Dombrowski, known for her role with the Rinky Dink Press, a local poetry microzine, and her student engagement clubs at ASU, was selected from a pool of applicants, with the hope that she will encourage more poetry in Phoenix.

Alberto Alvaro Rios is Arizona’s state poet laureate, and now, Phoenix joins the ranks of dozens of other cities nationwide that have established poet laureates.

In her new role, Dombrowski will work on a major literary project and present poetry readings to the public, using an annual stipend of $2,500 to cover travel and supply costs, with the funds coming from a grant. She will also have a dedicated webpage on the official City of Phoenix website.

As a senior lecturer in English at Arizona State University’s downtown campus, Dombrowski has worked with a variety of students and she will work to increase the visibility of poetry in Phoenix and beyond.