Jonathan Holden , the first Poet Laureate of Kansas, is a Professor of English at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Chosen in 2004, his two year term began July 1, 2005. He was succeeded by Denise Low on July 1, 2007.
Holden was born in 1941 in Morristown, New Jersey. He received a B.A. in English from Oberlin College in 1963. From 1963 to 1965, he was an editorial assistant for Cambridge Book Company in Bronxville, New Jersey. He then taught math at a high school in West Orange, New Jersey until 1968. In 1970, he received an M.A. in creative writing from San Francisco State College. He received a Ph D in English from the University of Colorado in 1974. From 1974 to 1978, he was " poet-in-residence at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. He moved to Manhattan, Kansas in 1978 where he joined Kansas State University. There he became "poet in residence" and University Distinguished Professor of English. In 1991, he became Thursten P. Morton Professor at the University of Louisville. In 2000, he served on the Pulitzer Prize poetry selection committee. In 2004, the governor appointed him poet laureate, with his term beginning the following July 1, 2005.
During his tenure as Kansas Poet Laureate, Holden instigated a statewide video teleconf program titled SHOPTALK, in conjunction with Kansas State University’s TELENET 2 program. SHOPTALK provided insight to poetry and poetry writing; the program provided a platform for Mr. Holden to have interactive poetry discussions with a live audience. Several notable Kansas poets appeared as guests on the program.
As Poet Laureate, Holden was also active as an advisor for "kansaspoets.com", a website specifically dedicated to Kansas poets and poetry. As well, Holden was guest editor for The Midwest Quarterly. The particular issue cited features over 60 Kansas poets plus special recognition to both Jonathan Holden and Denise Low. The issue received a very positive review from Literary Magazine Review (V. 25 Nos. 3 & 4 Fall & Winter), Jennifer Brantley, editor.
