Breadcrumb Home Iowa Writers' Workshop alumna Joy Harjo becomes the first Native American U.S. poet laureate Wednesday, June 19, 2019 https://www.npr.org/2019/06/19/733727917/joy-harjo-becomes-the-first-native-ame… Iowa Writers' Workshop alumna Joy Harjo was named the first Native American U.S. poet laureate. Harjo received an MFA from the UI in 1970.