2024-2025: Amber McBride, author, poet, professor (November 2024)
2023-2024: Laura Ruby, novelist
2022-2023: Dr. Julian Saporiti, songwriter, historian
2021-2022: Phil Kaye, spoken-word poet, author
2020-2021: Gish Jen, author
2019-2020: Elizabeth Acevedo, author
2018-2019: Madeline Miller, author
2017-2018: Rhiannon Giddens, songwriter
2016-2017: Lee Smith, author
2015-2016: Gloria Bond Clunie ’71, playwright
2014-2015: Joy Harjo, Mvskoke poet, musician, author
2013-2014: Amber Dermont, author
2012-2013: Tracy Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
2011-2012: Danzy Senna, author
2010-2011: Li-Young Lee, poet
2009-2010: Taylor Mali, poet
2008-2009: Claudia Emerson ’75, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
2007-2008: Carolyn Forché, poet
2006-2007: Tobias Wolff, author
2006-2007: Mark Mathabane, author
2005-2006: David Baker, Kenyon Review editor, poet
2005-2006: Anthony Abbott, author
2004-2005: Phillip Shabazz, poet
2004-2005: Nancy Peacock, author
2003-2004: Nikki Giovanni, poet
2003-2004: Claudia Emerson ’75, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet