Open Studio: 2025-26 Kentucky Poet Laureate Kathleen Driskell

By Alan Lytle

Published July 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM EDT

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In April, governor Andy Beshear named Kathleen Driskell as the next Kentucky poet laureate. She will serve in the position for the next two years acting as Kentucky's literary ambassador. She talks with Tom Musgrave about that position, what plan she has for her two year term, and you'll even get to hear her read from her work.

Learn more about Kathleen Driskell here:

https://www.kathleendriskell.com/

Information of Kentucky's Poet Laureate program:

https://artscouncil.ky.gov/kentucky-poet-laureate/

Tom Musgrave is a senior public relations writer for the University of Kentucky and editor of the daily campuswide electronic newsletter UKNow. Prior to joining the UK staff, Tom spent nine years as the Kentucky Arts Council’s communications director. In 2018 he created the arts council’s monthly podcast, Kentucky ArtsCast, serving as primary host and executive producer. Tom’s first job in state government was working for Virginia Moore at the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Before joining Kentucky state government, Tom worked as a professional journalist for nearly 15 years. He wrote and edited for the Mt. Sterling Advocate, Georgetown News-Graphic and the now-defunct Thoroughbred Times.

In addition to his full-time work, Tom has been a contributor to The Lane Report, Business Lexington, and Kentucky Monthly magazines.