University of Leeds appoints new Caster Fellow in Poetry

The University of Leeds is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Caster Cultural Fellow in Poetry, Kris Johnson, following the relaunch of the Fellowships earlier this year

Funded through the generosity of alumnus Douglas Caster (Electronic and Electrical Engineering, 1975) and his wife Lizzie Caster, these Fellowships provide emerging poets with sustained time to develop their creative practice while playing an active role in the intellectual and cultural life of the University. One fellow will be recruited each year over five years. Appointments are fixed term for up to two years, with a minimum of one academic year.

Kris Johnson, a poet and researcher in the environmental humanities, will take up the Fellowship in September 2026. Her debut collection, Ghost River (Bloodaxe, 2023), was shortlisted for the 2025 Michael Murphy Memorial Poetry Prize for a distinctive first volume and longlisted for the 2023 Laurel Prize for ecopoetry and nature writing. Johnson received a Developing Your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England to develop her second collection, The Vast Kingdom of Nowhere, forthcoming from Bloodaxe in 2027. She has also just won New Writing North's new award, the Charlotte Aitken Trust Award for Poetry.

In addition to full-length collections, Johnson has published a pamphlet of poetry, Skinny Dip (Enchiridion, 2022), and in journals, including Poetry Ireland Review, Poetry London, Poetry Northwest, Poetry Review, and Poetry Wales. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Newcastle University where she has also taught and worked as a researcher. She writes for Mslexia and lives in York.

Commenting on the Fellowship, Kris Johnson said:

“I am absolutely delighted to be the incoming Caster Cultural Fellow in Poetry. Having a substantial period of protected writing time to develop new work in poetry is so valuable and so rare. Being part of a thriving academic community while I research and write my third collection is a dream. That the University of Leeds actively encourages and supports interdisciplinary learning creates so many pathways for knowledge sharing across disciplines. I can’t wait to work with my new colleagues in the School of English, to learn from peers working in other disciplines, and to build connections with University partners and local writers.

“I am grateful to Douglas and Lizzie Caster for their immense generosity and for supporting this Fellowship, and to the University for its recognition of the contribution poets and poetry make to the cultural landscape. I am honoured and humbled to be part of this incredible legacy. This is a life changing opportunity, and I am going to cherish every moment of the next two years.”

Professor Kimberly Campanello, Director of Poetry@Leeds, poet and Lecturer in Creative Writing at the School of English, said:

“We are so thrilled to welcome Kris Johnson to Leeds as our new Caster Fellow. Kris is an exceptional talent whose powerful work and experience in environmental humanities brings a vital, contemporary perspective to our creative research community. Kris’ accomplishments speak for themselves and we cannot wait to see how her voice enriches research, the student experience and cultural life here at the University of Leeds.

“Many thanks once again to Douglas and Lizzie Caster for their continued belief in poetry as a vital, research-active art form and for their generosity in supporting the Fellowships.”

Douglas Caster said:

“Poetry has a unique capacity to challenge, connect and help us see the world differently, so I am pleased to help ensure that the University of Leeds remains a place where emerging writers are given the time, support and freedom to develop their work and share it with new audiences.”

The Caster Fellowships are open to poets at a relatively early stage in their careers who have already achieved significant public recognition and show strong potential for future distinction. Fellows are supported to develop new work, collaborate with academic and cultural partners, engage with students through teaching and informal events, and contribute to public-facing activities such as readings, workshops and exhibitions.

Since its inception, the Fellowships have attracted an outstanding line-up of poets to Leeds, including Matt Howard, Professor Helen Mort, Professor Anthony Vahni Capildeo, Dr Malika Booker and Dr Zaffar Kunial, all of whom have contributed to the University’s reputation as a leading centre for contemporary poetry.

The relaunch of the Caster Cultural Fellowships follows the rebranding of Poetry@Leeds (formerly the Poetry Centre), marking a renewed and research-led focus that brings together creative practice, literary scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration. Poetry@Leeds builds on the University’s exceptional poetry legacy, including internationally significant poetry holdings in the Brotherton Library, and a vibrant contemporary community of poets and researchers based in the School of English.

Leeds is home to a distinguished group of poet-scholars, including Professor John Whale, Professor Kimberly Campanello and Dr J.R. Carpenter, alongside a wider network of researchers working across poetry, poetics and performance.