Trending...
- One Night. One Encounter. A New Season Of Purpose
- We are Talker Study: 64% of AI Users Have Bought From a Brand AI Introduced, as The Invisible Shortlist Reshapes Brand Discovery
- Bountiful Bowl Aims to Raise $50,000 to Support Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley
Governor Spanberger Appoints Veteran Military Spouse to Literary Appointment
RICHMOND, Va. - PennZone -- 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 The PennZone
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 The PennZone
"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 The PennZone
- Pursant Founder Mark Herbick Joins STS Capital Partners as CEO
- 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
- Bridging Canvas and Cosmos: How Bioengineer Farin DeBose Captured the Essence of "True Science"
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 The PennZone
- 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
- NAO Releases Shopping Intelligence to Streamline Your Quest for Value
- International Misophonia Foundation Launches Sensory Accessible Technology Initiative to Address Overlooked Digital Accessibility Barriers
"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 The PennZone
- Resident Inspect Expands Virtual Property Inspections With AppFolio and Rentvine Integrations
- 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)
- Dr. Marilyn Pendelton Releases The Grief Reset to Address Grief Beyond Death
- 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
- Pastor Carlton L. Aiken Sr. Celebrates 55 Years with "Sermonic Selections"
- J. Wes Seeks Jazz Musicians, Vocalists and Bands for Philadelphia Live Music Event
- 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)
- Beyond the Odds: BetQL Combines Sharp Money Trends and Real Time Odds to Help Bettors Find Value
- Mark Schork and Terri Smith Honored by Philadelphia Bar Association as 'Bar Stars'
- WebDrafter Welcomes Dreamwork Exteriors as a New Marketing Client
- Glenn Lyvers Wins 2nd Place in Arizona State Poetry Society 2026 Annual Contest
- Access Control Security Shares 5 Ways Retailers Can Prevent Holiday Theft
- Bountiful Bowl Aims to Raise $50,000 to Support Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley
- Extreme Lead Program Highlights $27 Real Human Traffic Test for Affiliate and Network Marketers