Our Distinguished Visiting Writers have included the major American poets Mark Doty, Joy Harjo, Terrance Hayes, Edward Hirsch, Sharon Olds, Tracy K. Smith, Natasha Trethewey, and Kevin Young and novelists Ron Carlson, Pam Houston, and Bret Lott and essayist Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Our teaching faculty has included NEA fellows and winners of major awards including the National Book Award. They are not only well-published, well-respected, award-winning writers, they are also excellent teachers, most of whom hold professorships and have been recognized for their skill in the classroom.
It is this passion for teaching and writing that builds an enthusiastic learning community, and we hear from participants that they’ve kept in touch with faculty and fellow participants years after attending this conference.
2024
Kazim Ali
Nicky Beer
Valerie Miner
Lia Purpura
Sun Yung Shin
Danez Smith – Northwoods Visiting Writer
2023
Ross Gay
Keetje Kuipers
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Lia Purpura
Will Weaver
Diane Wilson
Heid E. Erdrich – Northwoods Visiting Writer
Sun Yung Shin – Northwoods Visiting Writer
2022
Kimberly Blaeser
Douglas Kearney
Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Unable to Attend)
Benjamin Percy
Joni Tevis
Claudia Rankine – Distinguished Visiting Writer (Virtual)
David Treuer – Distinguished Visiting Writer (Virtual)
Kaveh Akbar (Virtual Visiting Writer)
Elizabeth Bradfield (Virtual Visiting Writer)
Ross Gay (Virtual Visiting Writer)
Keetje Kuipers (Virtual Visiting Writer)
2021
Faith Adiele
Danielle Evans
Jennifer Elise Foerster
Drew Lanham
John Murillo
Nikky Finney – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2020
Elizabeth Bradfield
Alison Hawthorne Deming
Scott Russell Sanders
Brenda Shaughnessy
Meera Subramanian
Robin Wall Kimmerer – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2019
Camille Dungy
Ada Limón
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Dustin Parsons
Peter Orner
Terrance Hayes – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2018
Alison Hawthorne Deming
Mat Johnson
Joan Naviyuk Kane
Wayne Miller
Paisley Rekdal
Edward Hirsch – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2017
Elizabeth Bradfield
Janice Harrington
Ravi Howard
Ander Monson
Tracy K. Smith – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2016
Jericho Brown
Rebecca Brown
Natalie Diaz
LeeAnne Howe
Lorraine Lopez
Joy Harjo – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2015
Matt de la Peña
David Gessner
Mat Johnson
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Joni Tevis
Mark Doty – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2014
Rebecca Brown
Camille Dungy
Sheri Joseph
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Judson Mitchum
Pam Houston– Distinguished Visiting Writer
2013
Geoffrey Brock
Jericho Brown
Camille Dungy
Danielle Evans
Joni Tevis
Ron Carlson – Distinguished Visiting Writer
HIATUS
2008
Terrance Hayes
Judith Kitchen
Donna Masini
Judson Mitcham
Tina Parke-Sutherland
Natasha Trethewey – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2007
Steve Almond
Ann Copeland
David Jauss
Tina Parke-Sutherland
Tim Seibles
Bret Lott – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2006
Judy Blunt
Robin Hemley
David Jauss
Paisley Rekdal
Tina Parke-Sutherland
Sharon Olds – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2005
Rikki Ducornet
Sue Silverman
Nancy Willard
Wayne Johnson
Tina Parke-Sutherland
Kevin Young – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2004
Derick Burleson
Robin Hemley
Ann Copeland
Rich Wallace
Tina Parke-Sutherland
Judith Ortiz Cofer – Distinguished Visiting Writer
2003
Dan O’Brien
Ann Copeland
Tina Parke-Sutherland
Jay Parini – Distinguished Visiting Writer