The Department’s Visiting Writing Series brings esteemed poets, fiction writers, and non-fiction authors to our campus and community for engaging literary events. These events include public readings and provide a unique 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 significantly to the literary landscape. Previous visiting writers have included award-winning poets and authors such as Ada Limón, Ann Beattie, Silas House, Roxane Gay, Viet Thanh Nquyen, Li-Young Lee, Nicole Chung, and Tayari Jones. This program not only enriches the academic environment but also 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.
Fall 2024 Events A Reading with Todd Davis
When: November 7, 2024 at 6:00pm
Where: Gatton Student Center Rm. 331
Todd Davis is the author of eight full-length collections of poetry, including Ditch Memory: New & Selected Poems, Coffin Honey, and Native Species. His writing has won the Midwest Book Award, the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize, the Chautauqua Editors Prize, among others. His poems appear in such noted journals and magazines as Alaska Quarterly Review, North American Review, Missouri Review, Orion, Prairie Schooner, and more. He is an emeritus fellow of the Black Earth Institute and teaches environmental studies, creative writing, and American literature at Pennsylvania State University’s Altoona College.
PAST
A Reading with Shane McCrae 
When: September 18, 2024 at 7:00pm
Where: Gatton Student Center Rm. 330
Shane McCrae is the author of several books of poetry, including In the Language of My Captor, a finalist for the National Book Award. McCrae has also written three poetry chapbooks, one nonfiction chapbook, and the memoir, Pulling the Chariot of the Sun. His poems have appeared in the Best American Poetry Series, The American Poetry Review, and other anthologies and journals. He is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Pushcart Prize.
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For more information about the Visiting Writers Series contact Crystal Wilkinson or Robin Rahija.