The department’s Visiting Writing Series brings esteemed poets, fiction writers and nonfiction authors to our campus and community for engaging literary events. These events include public readings and provide an opportunity for students and the community to engage with contemporary literature and the creative process. 

The series features a diverse lineup of nationally and internationally recognized authors who contribute to the literary landscape. Previous visiting writers have included award-winning poets and such authors as Ada Limón, Ann Beattie, Silas House, Roxane Gay, Viet Thanh Nquyen, Li-Young Lee, Nicole Chung and Tayari Jones. This program enriches the academic environment and provides aspiring writers with inspiration and practical knowledge from leading figures in the literary world. All events are free and open to the public. Support for the Visiting Writers Series is provided by generous donors. We welcome contributions to the English MFA Visiting Writers Fund.

Spring 2026 Events

February: Visiting Writers Series featuring Kei Miller

Kei Miller is the author of 11 books that range across several genres. His 2014 poetry collection, The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion, won the Forward Prize for Best Collection; his 2017 novel, Augustown, won the Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, the Prix Les Afriques and the Prix Carbet de la Caraïbe et du Tout-Monde. Miller has an M.A. in creative writing from Manchester Metropolitan University and a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Glasgow. He was the 2019 Ida Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Iowa and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of Miami.

More information for the event can be found on our flier.

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For more information about the Visiting Writers Series contact Julia Johnson or Robin Rahija.