Many students at ASFA may not be aware of our very own Ms. Ashley M. Jones’ new position as the poet laureate of the state of Alabama for the 2022-2026 term, making her both the youngest poet laureate in the history of Alabama, as well as the first Black woman to hold the title for the state. And with it she takes on the task of promoting the art and creating opportunities that make poetry more accessible to the Alabama public, all while continuing her work teaching here in the Creative Writing department.
It’s an understatement to say Ms. Jones is busier than ever, but she’s no stranger to the lifestyle, constantly traveling across the country to do meetings, signings, and directing the Magic City Poetry Festival back home in Birmingham, even before being named poet laureate. It’s not uncommon for her to attend multiple readings in the morning, or to have just hopped off a flight before coming in to teach for the day, and according to her, the challenge seems to have only made her more appreciative of her job teaching here at ASFA.
“Teaching is like the restorative part of my day,” Ms. Jones says in an interview. “I feel energized to come and talk to [students] and to share that energy that I have about writing.”
The title of poet laureate is one that appears shrouded beneath an unintentional veil of secrecy in a society where poetry has lost a lot of its popularity, and thus its value in modern culture, but Ms. Jones says engaging in the art form is more rewarding than ever:
“It allows you to create empathy for other people."
An empathy that is central to Ms. Jones’ philosophy on not only poetry, but any form of art. A kind of understanding that she believes is the key to bettering yourself as well as the way you view others, gaining a level of perspective only achievable through the sharing and exploration of all the ideas and emotions that art brings.
“Reading and creating gives the space for you to consider yourself, appreciate yourself, understand the importance of your own voice,” Ms. Jones says, “and do the same for other people.”
Congratulations! This is amazing!