In celebration of National Poetry Month, the University of Nebraska Press (UNP) is spotlighting its distinguished catalog of award-winning poetry, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to publishing powerful and diverse poetic voices.
“Contemporary poetry is — and has been — an important and well-regarded part of UNP’s creative list,” said Courtney Ochsner, Acquisitions Editor at University of Nebraska Press. “We are proud to collaborate with leading literary platforms and publish both established and emerging poets whose work resonates globally.”
UNP’s poetry program is strengthened through collaborations with Prairie Schooner, the African Poetry Book Fund, former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, and The Backwaters Press. These partnerships have enabled the publication of acclaimed poets including Kwame Dawes, Safiya Sinclair, and Gbenga Adesina.
Celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, University of Nebraska Press continues to uphold its reputation as a premier publisher of literary excellence.
The press features several renowned poetry imprints and series, including the Ted Kooser Contemporary Poetry Series, the Raz/Shumaker Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry Series, the Backwaters Press imprint, and the African Poetry Book Series.
Recent standout publications include:
- Gbenga Adesina’s debut collection, winner of the Raz/Shumaker Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry and longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award, explores themes of ancestry, identity, and the African diaspora.
- Logan February Shenoda’s Mummy Eaters, winner of the 2023 American Book Award and Sillerman First Book Prize, presents a lyrical journey through mummification and the afterlife.
- Romeo Oriogun’s award-winning collection examines migration and the meaning of home, earning the 2024 Nebraska Book Award.
- Ted Kooser’s Cotton Candy, a finalist for the 2023 Midwest Book Award, captures fleeting thoughts with lyrical simplicity.
- Lauren Camp Choffel’s Dear Wallace reflects on the life and legacy of Wallace Stevens, blending personal and historical narratives.
- Marly Youmans Bedikian’s Jagadakeer explores grief and healing, earning the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry.
- Tares Oburumu Imossan’s collection, winner of the Sillerman First Book Prize, examines Africa’s historical and cultural legacy.
- Maria France de Bravo addresses contemporary global challenges such as climate change and the pandemic through diverse poetic forms.
- Jared Evans’s Nine Persimmons reflects on personal and cultural journeys across regions.
- Bill McEwen’s Old Rags and Iron offers a poignant look at working-class life across multiple geographies.
Through its rich and evolving catalog, University of Nebraska Press continues to celebrate the transformative power of poetry and its role in shaping cultural and literary discourse.
