As Virginia's Poet Laureate, Dr. Faison, Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Languages & Literature, will promote poetry and literature, encourage appreciation for the literary arts, and celebrate the Commonwealth’s rich literary heritage through public engagement. The appointment is one of the highest literary honors in the state.
An accomplished poet, educator, and literary scholar, Dr. Faison has earned national recognition for her contributions to contemporary poetry and scholarship. In 2025, her acclaimed poetry collection, Nursery Rhymes in Black, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, bringing national attention to her powerful exploration of history, identity, culture, and the African American experience. Her appointment as Virginia Poet Laureate reflects her enduring contributions to Virginia's literary and cultural landscape.
