Dr. Latorial Faison Appointed Poet Laureate of Virginia
The Californer/10361663

RICHMOND, Va. - Californer -- 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.

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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.

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"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/