Remica L. Bingham-Risher is a Cave Canem fellow and an Affrilachian Poet. She has published two books of poems, Conversion and What We Ask of Flesh. She is the Director of Writing and Faculty Development at Old Dominion University.

Amanda Johnston is the founder and executive director of Torch Literary Arts and the Retreat & Residencies Coordinator for Cave Canem Foundation, Inc.

Frances McCue is a poet, prose writer, and Arts Instigator. The founding director of Richard Hugo House from 1996-2006, she is the author of The Car That Brought You Here Still Runs (about Richard Hugo) and two poetry collections, The Bled and The Stenographer's Breakfast.

Al Young’s many books include poetry, fiction, essays, anthologies, and musical memoirs. From 2005 through 2008 he served as California’s poet laureate. Other honors include NEA, Fulbright, and Guggenheim fellowships, the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, and the 2011 Thomas Wolfe Award.

Michael Faucette received the Excellence in Teaching Award of the University of Washington. He has also received Rockefeller Foundation and U.S.-Japan Foundation travel grants. A writer and translator, he is past secretary of the Board of Directors of the Seattle Review.