Hastings Hensel named new Georgetown County Library Poet Laureate

The Georgetown County Library (GCL) has officially appointed accomplished writer and educator Hastings Hensel as its second Poet Laureate. His two-year term will run from June 30, 2026, until June 30, 2028.

The GCL Poet Laureate position was established in 2025 to expand community literacy outreach and foster a deeper appreciation for poetry across the county’s five branches. Hensel succeeds the inaugural laureate, Marlanda Dekine.

A Proven Community Partner

Hensel is already a familiar face at GCL, having previously led writing workshops, organized literary kayak tours, and served as a featured reader for the Waccamaw Library’s Litchfield Poetry Series. Notably, his recent educational paddle along Black Mingo Creek—combining local history with natural science—was featured in The New York Times.

Stellar Credentials

An esteemed voice of the Carolina coast, Hensel brings an impressive background to the role:

• Education & Teaching: He holds an M.F.A. from Johns Hopkins University and has taught writing at Coastal Carolina University for over 17 years.

• Published Works: He is the author of multiple poetry collections, including Ballyhoo and Winter Inlet (winner of the Unicorn Press First Book Contest). He also co-edited the 2026 anthology The Winyah Bay Watershed: A Literary Field Guide.

• Local Expertise: He is a certified South Carolina Master Naturalist and owner of River Reader Kayaking, LLC.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Andrew Hudgins highly praised the appointment, noting that Hensel is already the defining poet of the Carolina coast. In his new role, Hensel is poised to build on the strong foundation left by Dekine and continue inspiring readers and writers throughout Georgetown County.