Trending...
- New Research Spotlight, Expanding TUSC2 Science & Strategic Development Milestones Put Gene Therapy Innovation into Focus for Genprex (NAS DAQ: GNPX)
- One in three Americans may have lost track of retirement savings from a previous job
- Datavalet Named One of Quebec's Best Workplaces™ for 2026
Governor Spanberger Appoints Veteran Military Spouse to Literary Appointment
RICHMOND, Va. - Washingtoner -- Acclaimed poet, author, and professor, Dr. Latorial Faison has been appointed Poet Laureate of Virginia.
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the appointment Monday, July 20, 2026. Faison was sworn in on Wednesday, July 22nd. Faison will serve as the Commonwealth's chief ambassador for poetry, promoting literary arts and fostering appreciation for poetry across Virginia.
"It is a profound honor to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia as Poet Laureate," said Dr. Faison. "Poetry is a bridge between people, histories, and hopes. I look forward to sharing the power of poetry with Virginians of every generation and every community."
Faison's laureateship is grounded in the themes of culture, hope, legacy, and lineage, positioning poetry as both a civic practice and a cultural archive—one that speaks to Virginia's past, engages its present, and imagines its future.
Through statewide poetry events, educational and cultural initiatives, community partnerships, and diverse programs, Faison seeks to advance poetry as a tool for civic expression and engagement, human connection, historical understanding, and collective visioning, ensuring that poetry remains accessible, relevant, and transformative for all Virginians.
More on Washingtoner
Faison is an award-winning poet, author, educator, and veteran US Army wife whose literary work has earned national recognition for its exploration of history and culture. A native of Southampton County, VA, she earned a BA in English with a minor in Religious Studies at UVA, a Master of Arts in English at Virginia Tech, and a Doctorate in Education at Virginia State University.
Faison is Assistant Professor of English and a former Department Chair in Virginia State University's Department of Languages & Literature. She is the author of numerous books of poetry, including Nursery Rhymes in Black, winner of the 2023 Permafrost Poetry Prize and a 2026 Virginia Literary Awards Finalist in Poetry. Her writing has appeared in journals and anthologies across the United States.
A former Virginia Humanities HBCU Fellow and Furious Flower Poetry Center Fellow, Dr. Faison has devoted her career to expanding access to literature while mentoring emerging writers and fostering literary communities throughout Virginia and beyond.
The Poet Laureate position celebrates Virginia's rich literary heritage while promoting the role of poetry in civic life, education, and cultural expression.
More on Washingtoner
"Poetry belongs to everyone. My hope is that every Virginian will discover that poems not only tell our stories—they help us imagine the future we can create together." -Dr. Latorial Faison
VA State University: https://www.vsu.edu/news/2026/virginia-state-university-leaders-chosen-to-help-shape-the-future-of-the-commonwealth.php
VA Governor's Office: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/july-releases/name-1121498-en.html
The Poetry Society of Virginia: https://poetrysocietyofvirginia.org/2026/07/27/dr-latorial-faison-named-new-virginia-poet-laureate/
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the appointment Monday, July 20, 2026. Faison was sworn in on Wednesday, July 22nd. Faison will serve as the Commonwealth's chief ambassador for poetry, promoting literary arts and fostering appreciation for poetry across Virginia.
"It is a profound honor to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia as Poet Laureate," said Dr. Faison. "Poetry is a bridge between people, histories, and hopes. I look forward to sharing the power of poetry with Virginians of every generation and every community."
Faison's laureateship is grounded in the themes of culture, hope, legacy, and lineage, positioning poetry as both a civic practice and a cultural archive—one that speaks to Virginia's past, engages its present, and imagines its future.
Through statewide poetry events, educational and cultural initiatives, community partnerships, and diverse programs, Faison seeks to advance poetry as a tool for civic expression and engagement, human connection, historical understanding, and collective visioning, ensuring that poetry remains accessible, relevant, and transformative for all Virginians.
More on Washingtoner
- Pursant Founder Mark Herbick Joins STS Capital Partners as CEO
- HiLine Homes' "Building Homes & Filling Plates" Food Drive Returns to Support Local Families
- Tampa Holiday Sessions: Captured by Mallary Opens 2026 Christmas Minis With Two New Sets
- Tampa Web Design Launches New Website for Entrepreneur and Capital Markets Advisor Martin Sumichrast
- Miami Dade College and World Affairs Council of Miami announce Navarro-Cabrera scholarship
Faison is an award-winning poet, author, educator, and veteran US Army wife whose literary work has earned national recognition for its exploration of history and culture. A native of Southampton County, VA, she earned a BA in English with a minor in Religious Studies at UVA, a Master of Arts in English at Virginia Tech, and a Doctorate in Education at Virginia State University.
Faison is Assistant Professor of English and a former Department Chair in Virginia State University's Department of Languages & Literature. She is the author of numerous books of poetry, including Nursery Rhymes in Black, winner of the 2023 Permafrost Poetry Prize and a 2026 Virginia Literary Awards Finalist in Poetry. Her writing has appeared in journals and anthologies across the United States.
A former Virginia Humanities HBCU Fellow and Furious Flower Poetry Center Fellow, Dr. Faison has devoted her career to expanding access to literature while mentoring emerging writers and fostering literary communities throughout Virginia and beyond.
The Poet Laureate position celebrates Virginia's rich literary heritage while promoting the role of poetry in civic life, education, and cultural expression.
More on Washingtoner
- RPP to host first Professional Padel Week in Miami and announce the 2026 USA Awards winners
- UK Financial Ltd. Announces Maya Preferred PRA as First Fully Verified Asset on MAYA CHAIN; Chainlink Proof of Reserve Integration Planned for Network
- ALight Technology And Services Limited Advances Through Peachscore + Dealum Accelerator and Join LvlUp Labs
- International Misophonia Foundation Launches Sensory Accessible Technology Initiative to Address Overlooked Digital Accessibility Barriers
- RAS AP Consulting Advances 1099 Education and Readiness Initiative Through IFOL Training and Finance Technology Showcase
"Poetry belongs to everyone. My hope is that every Virginian will discover that poems not only tell our stories—they help us imagine the future we can create together." -Dr. Latorial Faison
VA State University: https://www.vsu.edu/news/2026/virginia-state-university-leaders-chosen-to-help-shape-the-future-of-the-commonwealth.php
VA Governor's Office: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/july-releases/name-1121498-en.html
The Poetry Society of Virginia: https://poetrysocietyofvirginia.org/2026/07/27/dr-latorial-faison-named-new-virginia-poet-laureate/
Source: Cross Keys Press
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- Unlocking the Next Phase of Growth with New AI Innovations; Targeting 2027 as Breakeven; Revenue Momentum Accelerates: ZenaTech (N A S D A Q: ZENA)
- AeroNet Deploys netElastic vBNG and CGNAT with Tarana Wireless to Deliver Scalable, Fiber-Class Broadband Across Puerto Rico
- New Atlas Maps the 38 States Behind Every Conversation
- Atlanta Company Launches Free, Ad-Free, Nonpartisan Voter Planning App for All 50 States Ahead of the Nov. 3 Election
- NECP Promotes Chertova to Senior Business Analyst
- Security Industry Veteran Anthony Rumore Launches AegisLead to Help Security Companies Find Business and Manage Growth
- Charlie Shaw and Patrick Carragher win SEO Agency of the Year 2026
- Canadian Woman Plants 1,667 Love Stories in a Field of Peonies That Could Bloom for 100 Years
- New Research Spotlight, Expanding TUSC2 Science & Strategic Development Milestones Put Gene Therapy Innovation into Focus for Genprex (NAS DAQ: GNPX)
- Proform Builds Releases Short Documentary on Founder Joey Fentress and the Story Behind the Company
- Tacoma City Council Passes Ordinance to Modernize Property Maintenance Standards, Address Repeat and Chronic Violations, and Strengthen Neighborhood Livability
- Spokane: SPD are Searching for a Vehicle in Connection with Fatal Hit and Run
- Are the Cameras in Spokane Flock or ALPRs?
- Tacoma: Statement from Emergency Response Leaders on Proposed Changes to Alternative Response
- Access Control Security Shares 5 Ways Retailers Can Prevent Holiday Theft
- Extreme Lead Program Highlights $27 Real Human Traffic Test for Affiliate and Network Marketers
- Call 311 for Non-Emergency Help in City of Spokane Limits
- Paraguay Expedition Offers a Different View of Human Resilience
- Longevity Academy Features Gail Humble, MD of KLOTHO SKIN in the Longevity Leaders Project
- Datavalet Named One of Quebec's Best Workplaces™ for 2026