| Term | Poet (Dates) |
| 2004- | Ted Kooser (1939- ) |
| 2003-2004 | Louise Gluck (1943- ) |
| 2001-2003 | Billy Collins (1941- ) |
| 2000-2001 | Stanley Kunitz (1905- ) |
| 1997-2000 | Robert Pinsky (1940- ) |
| 1995-1997 | Robert Hass (1941- ) |
| 1993-1995 | Rita Dove (1952- ) |
| 1992-1993 | Mona Van Duyn (1921- ) |
| 1991-1992 | Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996) |
| 1990-1991 | Mark Strand (1934- ) |
| 1988-1990 | Howard Nemerov (1920-1991) |
| 1987-1988 | Richard Wilbur (1921- ) |
| 1986-1987 | Robert Penn Warren (1905-1989) |