Professor Ruth Ellen Kocher, a nationally recognized poet, will become associate dean for arts and humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder on July 1, Dean Steven R. Leigh announced today.

Kocher, now chair of the Department of English, received her Ph.D. in American literature from Arizona State University and joined CU Boulder’s faculty in 2006 as an associate professor.

Professor Kocher is a prolific creative writer focusing on poetry, and she has published widely. Hailing her “impressive list of awards for her creative endeavors,” Leigh mentioned her Kayden Award, PEN Open Book Award, and other awards earned consistently through her career.

Kocher has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Cave Canem Foundation and Yaddo. She is a contributing editor at Poets & Writers magazine. She is also active in reading and performing her work. 

Kocher succeeds Valerio Ferme, who is leaving to become dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Northern Arizona University.