Susan McCabe is full professor at USC, and formerly directed the PhD in creative writing and literature. She has two books of poems, and two critical books. She has numerous publications in journals, and is currently working on a biography of Bryher and a book of poems, Letters from a Fortune Teller.

Carol Muske-Dukes is the author of eight books of poems, four novels, two essay collections, and two edited anthologies. She is a professor of English and creative writing at USC. She is founder of USC's PhD program in creative writing/literature, and the former poet laureate of California. Her honors include a Guggenheim and NEA. She is a National Book Award and Los Angeles Times Book Award finalist.

Mark Irwin is the author of eight collections of poetry, which include American Urn: Selected Poems (1987–2014), Tall If, and Bright Hunger. Recognition for his work includes four Pushcart Prizes, two Colorado Book Awards, and fellowships from the Fulbright, Lilly, NEA, and Wurlitzer Foundations.

Anna Journey is the author of the poetry collections Vulgar Remedies and If Birds Gather Your Hair for Nesting, which was selected by Thomas Lux for the National Poetry Series. She is an assistant professor of English at the University of Southern California.

Dana Johnson is an associate professor of English at the University of Southern California. She is the author of Break Any Woman Down, winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, and Elsewhere, California.