She’s breaking barriers — and making history as the youngest person ever to hold the title.

Omaha native Jewel Rodgers has officially been named Nebraska’s new Poet Laureate, according to KETV News (KETV). Her appointment marks a milestone for the state: at just 27 years old, Rodgers becomes the youngest poet laureate in Nebraska’s history and the first African American ever selected for the role. An author, performer, and teaching artist, Rodgers has been steadily building a reputation as one of the region’s most distinctive literary voices.

Rodgers is the daughter of Heisman Trophy winner and Husker legend Johnny Rodgers, and she credits both of her parents for nurturing her passion for writing. She recalls beginning her poetry journey in the sixth grade, encouraged by a home environment that valued creativity, discipline, and resilience.

“My father, Johnny Rodgers, is directly responsible for my work ethic. I try really, really hard, and I know no other way because of him,” she explained.

She added that her mother played a different yet equally essential role:
“[My mother has] always encouraged the arts in me; she saw the value in my voice, my pen, and my hands when nobody else did.”

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who announced the appointment, said Rodgers’ poetry and performance presence were what ultimately convinced him she was the ideal choice. He praised her ability to connect with audiences of all ages across the state — from classrooms to conferences to major cultural events — noting that her work embodies the spirit of Nebraska’s creative community (Omaha World-Herald).

Rodgers is already a familiar face in the region’s arts scene. She is a three-time Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award nominee, a three-time TEDx speaker, and a teaching artist with the Nebraska Writers Collective, an organization recognized for its youth slam poetry programs (NPR). Over the past several years, she has earned a number of prestigious honors, including being named a 2022 Union for Contemporary Art Fellow, a 2023 Andy Warhol Populus Fund grantee, and a 2024 finalist in the Blackberry Peach Poetry Slam, one of the nation’s leading spoken-word competitions (Associated Press).

At the press conference announcing her appointment, Gov. Pillen described the decision as a clear win for the state.
“I think it’s easy for everybody to see that this appointment is a grand slam,” he said.

As Nebraska’s Poet Laureate — a role that spans five years — Rodgers will travel throughout the state to promote poetry, literacy, and creative expression. She intends to center youth engagement, elevate underrepresented voices, and bring greater recognition to Nebraska authors and artists.

“Thank you so much for choosing to honor my gift in this way. I am beyond privileged and honored,” Rodgers said. “With this platform as both a privilege and an opportunity, I intend to uplift as many Nebraska voices as possible.”

Her father sat proudly in the front row during the ceremony, visibly moved as his daughter stepped into her historic new role.

“It’s indescribable,” he shared. “She’s been thinking about this for a long time and proved that you can do whatever you want to do if you just want to do it bad enough. It’s almost incredibly impossible that my daughter would be the first African American to win such an award for the state of Nebraska.”

With her talent, drive, and commitment to community, Jewel Rodgers is poised to usher in a new era of poetry and public art in Nebraska — one that reflects the state’s evolving voice and celebrates its diverse creative future.