Tim Seibles has published several collections of poetry, including Buffalo Head Solos, Fast Animal—a finalist for the National Book Award in 2012—and, most recently, One Turn Around The Sun. He is a professor of English at Old Dominion University and the current poet laureate of Virginia.

Remica L. Bingham-Risher is a Cave Canem fellow and an Affrilachian Poet. She has published three books of poems, Conversion, What We Ask of Flesh, and Starlight & Error. She is director of Quality Enhancement Plan Initiatives at Old Dominion University.

Quenton Baker is a poet and educator from Seattle. His current focus is the fact of blackness in American society. Recipient of the 2016 James W. Ray Venture Artist Award and a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, he is the author of This Glittering Republic.

Shara McCallum is the author of five books of poetry, including her most recent collection, Madwoman. Recognition for her work includes an NEA for poetry and Witter Bynner Fellowship. McCallum was director of the Stadler Center for Poetry for fourteen years and now teaches at Penn State University.