Keynote by Jewel Rodgers, Nebraska State Poet

To commemorate National Day of Racial Healing, the University Libraries have invited Jewel Rodgers, Nebraska State Poet, as keynote speaker on January 20, 2026, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Auditorium (LLS 102) of Love Library South. Join us after the program in Love Library’s lobby for refreshments and an opportunity to chat directly with the speaker and others. Registration is preferred but not required. This event is free and open to the campus community and the public.

Rodgers will share insights from her journey as the Nebraska State Poet, using spoken-word poetry to illuminate her experiences as an artist, former UNL student, and community builder. Through her talk, she will inspire connection, collaborative action, and the power of creativity to spark change and foster healing.

Jewel Rodgers is the 2025–2029 Nebraska State Poet and a 2025 Academy of American Poets Fellowship recipient. A three-time Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award nominee for Best Performance Poet and a three-time TEDx speaker, she has toured nationally for over a decade, performing in schools, festivals, conferences, and public spaces. Her work has appeared in projects such as 100 Years | 100 Women (Park Avenue Armory – NY) and as a finalist in the 2024 Blackberry Peach Poetry Slam. An interdisciplinary performer and spatial practitioner, Jewel merges poetry, storytelling, and placemaking to inspire communities across Nebraska and beyond.

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Format: in-person
Location: Love Library South auditorium 102

Registration is preferred but not required. Register at go.unl.edu/2026jewelrodgersregistration

*If you need accommodations to participate in this program, please reach out to Jannah Vanie, jvanie2@nebraska.edu