Meghan Mazella/The Ithacan KATHARYN HOWD MACHAN, associate professor of writing, has been appointed as the first poet laureate for Tompkins County. Machan has taught at the college since 1977 and has won numerous national awards for her poetry.

A poem is like a part of you set free.”

For Katharyn Howd Machan, associate professor of writing, poetry is all this quote from her Web site entails. She said it has been the core of her life for more than 30 years.

Machan said she began writing poetry as a teenager, after years of “devouring” books. Since then, the award-winning author has written 21 books and published more than 1,000 poems on topics ranging from Ithaca and beets to feminism and social issues.

The Tompkins County Board of Representatives added a new leaf to Machan’s laurel when they appointed her as the county’s first poet laureate in a ceremony Tuesday. Board member Stuart Stein said he thinks Machan will be able to fulfill the post’s goal of bridging the gap between poets and the community.

“She can bring poetry to the people,” he said.

Barbara Adams, assistant professor of writing, said she thinks the title fits Machan.

“How appropriate, I thought,” Adams said. “It’s right. When I think of the post, hers is the first name that comes to mind.”

Machan was one of four local poets who were nominated to the Community Arts Partnership for the position. A three-member selection panel, which was established by Stein in December, chose Machan after reviewing applications and samples of poetry.

Although Machan said she is deeply gratified that her efforts have resulted in the title of poet laureate, she is more excited about the opportunities the role provides.

“I’m delighted because it opens many more doors to do the kind of work I’ve enjoyed doing anyway for the community,” she said.

Since she moved into the community in 1975, Machan has been deeply involved with area organizations. She came to the college in 1977 as a part-time instructor and became an assistant professor in 1984. Machan likes Ithaca, she said, because she can be part of an “artistic cultural center” and still be 10 minutes away from cows.

As coordinator for the Ithaca Community Poets, Machan organizes workshops and readings at regular intervals. Each semester, she also plans Ithaca College’s Womenspeak conference and the Department of Writing’s Distinguished Visiting Writers Series.

Many of Machan’s colleagues, including Marian MacCurdy, associate professor and chairwoman of the writing department, said they regard her as a generous person.

“If she has resources that she thinks would be helpful for other people in the department, she shares them with us,” MacCurdy said. “She is one of those people that will go not only an extra mile, but 10 miles for a student.”

But Machan’s life doesn’t revolve solely around the literary world.

The door to her office is a collage of fliers: several photographers, philosophers and artists battle for space. A drawing from her son, pasted on the side, reads, “If you don’t return your homework by tumarow, you’ll be i BIG TROBEL — DeTenTion.” A photograph of Machan belly dancing in a fiery costume is prominently displayed in the center.

To the children who receive belly dancing lessons from her, Machan is better known as Zajal the sugar plum fairy. As part of the Gerontology Institute, she also teaches belly dancing to Longview residents every Tuesday.

Machan’s love for belly dancing began more by accident than by design.

“Back in September 1979, a friend asked me to go take a class with her,” Machan said. “She didn’t show up that night, but I did. And I fell in love with it!”

Born in 1952, Machan fondly remembers her childhood days growing up in Woodbury, Conn. She said her mother’s bedtime stories helped shape her identity.

“Very important to me in my development was my mother reading me all the books in the Mary Poppins series by P. L. Travers,” she said.

She later earned a doctorate from Northwestern University, a master’s degree from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Rose in Albany.

Senior Amanda Burigatto, a longtime student of Machan, said she admires her as a teacher and poet.

“I remember she told us that it’s going to take a really long time for you to actually say, ‘I’m a poet,’” Burigatto said. “People will roll their eyes, and nobody will take you seriously. But now I can say that’s what I do. That’s what I am.”

Burigatto said she is thankful to Machan for helping her to find her identity through poetry. Machan, on the other hand, said she loves her own colorful identity.

“I wear 16 different hats, masks and costumes,” she said. “And all honestly.”