Iowa Student Poet Ambassador

The University of Iowa's Office of Community Engagement coordinates the Iowa Student Poet Ambassador (ISPA) program, a collaboration between statewide partner organizations. ISPA, an unpaid honor and the highest award to a young writer in the state, is designed to recognize and celebrate a talented student poet, who, in turn, will validate and support the voices of young people in Iowa and raise awareness of the literary arts. ISPA's vision is that Iowa youth will pursue their talents in poetry writing while enhancing enjoyment and engagement with poetry across the state.

Through IPA, the ISPA is invited to participate in events such as Poetry on the Prairie, Poetry Palooza, etc.

Additionally, the ISPA participates in various Iowa events throughout the year such as, April's ISPA Inauguration, All Iowa Reads, IPA Live, Poetry in Public at the Iowa City Book Festival, Mic Check Poetry Festival, high school graduation(s), and more.

Josie Nabhan-Warren

2026-27 Iowa Student Poet Ambassador

West High School Student Receives Iowa’s Highest Honor for a Young Writer

Josie Nabhan-Warren Named 2026–27 Iowa Student Poet Ambassador

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Literary leaders from across the state have selected Josie Nabhan-Warren, a junior at West High School in Iowa City, as the 2026–27 Iowa Student Poet Ambassador (ISPA), the highest honor awarded to a young writer in Iowa. Chosen from a talented pool of high school poets statewide, Nabhan-Warren will be officially inaugurated in Des Moines on Friday, April 24.

An accomplished and thoughtful young writer, Nabhan-Warren believes that “poetry is a tool of empathy,” and her work reflects a deep attentiveness to voice, connection, and the power of language to build understanding.

“The ISPA program recognizes an outstanding young writer and celebrates poetry and the literary arts in Iowa,” said Jan Warren, ISPA Coordinator and Program Manager in the University of Iowa’s Office of Community Engagement. “We are thrilled that Josie will carry forward the impressive tradition established by ambassadors from across the state.” Nabhan-Warren will be the sixth student to hold this prestigious title.

A committee of partner organizations selected this year’s ISPA from a distinguished group of students who participated in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the Iowa Poetry Association, and IC Speaks. Additional nominations were submitted by high school teachers. The selection process includes two rounds: a blind review and ranking of student poetry, followed by an evaluation of finalists’ readiness to serve in an ambassadorial role.

Nabhan-Warren will be inaugurated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24, in the historic Law Library at the Iowa State Capitol as part of National Poetry Month. The ceremony will include representatives from partner organizations and feature poetry readings by the Iowa Poet Laureate, outgoing ISPA Daniel Umemezie, and Nabhan-Warren.

The University of Iowa’s Office of Community Engagement coordinates the Iowa Student Poet Ambassador program in collaboration with statewide partners. ISPA is an unpaid honor designed to recognize and celebrate a talented student poet who will amplify the voices of young people and promote engagement with the literary arts across Iowa. The program’s vision is to encourage Iowa youth to pursue their creative talents while strengthening appreciation for poetry statewide.