New York, NY (January 8, 2026)—Academy of American Poets Names Robert Casper, a National Leader in Poetry and Literary Collaboration, President and Executive Director
New York, NY (January 8, 2026)—The Academy of American Poets is pleased to announce that Robert Casper has been appointed President and Executive Director, effective January 26, 2026.
Casper brings more than twenty-five years of experience in furthering American poetry within leading literary organizations, most recently as head of Poetry and Literature in the Literary Initiatives Office at the Library of Congress. At the Library, Casper oversaw the U.S. Poet Laureate position and led high-profile initiatives that placed poets in dialogue with the public, expanding the influence of poetry through programs and digital outreach. His work has emphasized collaboration across institutions and engagement with communities throughout the United States.
“In Robert Casper, the Academy found an accomplished leader who has dedicated his career to championing American poets and writers on the national stage. As we look toward celebrating the Academy’s one hundredth anniversary in 2034, Rob’s expertise in forging innovative partnerships across the cultural and civic sectors will be instrumental in ensuring that poetry remains a cornerstone of American culture,” said Tess O’Dwyer, Board Chair.
About his appointment, Casper said, “It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the President and Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets. Alongside its Board of Directors, Chancellors, and staff—as well as with partners in the field—I am eager to invite all Americans to connect to the living art of poetry, support poets as they shape the language of our time, and advocate for poetry’s critical role in our collective future.”
Prior to joining the Library of Congress, Casper held leadership roles at the Poetry Society of America and the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), expanding membership, launching conferences and Lit Fairs, and increasing poetry programming through strategic partnerships. He has also served as poetry chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council, further grounding his work in both national and local literary communities.
Academy Chancellor and former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith said, “Rob Casper is a champion of poetry as a public good. He’s lent his enthusiasm and expertise to numerous far-reaching poetry initiatives, including my own U.S. Poet Laureate project, ‘American Conversations: Celebrating Poetry in Rural Communities.’ He is beloved across an array of poetry communities in America and is the perfect person to lead the Academy of American Poets into a new era.”
Casper’s appointment concludes a national search following the departure of the previous President and Executive Director, Ricardo Alberto Maldonado. Isaacson, Miller conducted the search, and the Search Committee included the following Board members: Sidney Clifton (Chair, Chancellors Committee); Carolyn Forché (ex officio Board member and Chancellor); Tracie Hall (Chair, Long-Range Planning Committee); Alexandra Jackson (Board Secretary); Camille Lannan (Chair, Archive Committee); Tess O’Dwyer (Board Chair); and Gerald Richards (Member, Emeritus Council).
The Board extends appreciation to Anika Selhorst for her work as Interim Executive Director during the vacancy and search process.
About Robert Casper
Robert Casper has served as the head of Poetry and Literature at the Library of Congress since 2011. He previously worked as programs director at the Poetry Society of America and membership director at the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP). Additionally, Casper served as the magazine representative on the CLMP board, the poetry chair of the Brooklyn Literary Council, and a member of LitNet and the Poetry Coalition. The founding publisher of the literary magazine jubilat (2000–2021) and cofounder of the jubilat/Jones reading series, Casper received degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s MFA for Poets and Writers program and from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
About the Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets is a leading publisher of contemporary poetry across the United States. The organization annually awards $1.3+ million to more than two hundred poets at various stages of their careers through its prize program. It also produces Poets.org, the world’s largest publicly funded website for poets and poetry; established and organizes National Poetry Month each April; publishes the Poem-a-Day series and American Poets magazine; provides free resources to educators; hosts an annual series of poetry readings and special events; and coordinates a national Poetry Coalition that promotes the value poets bring to our culture. To learn more about the Academy of American Poets, visit https://poets.org/.