Alexandria has named Cristina “Cristi” Donoso as its new Poet Laureate, as announced in an eNews bulletin on the morning of April 2. She will take over the role from Zeina Azzam.
Donoso’s first official event in her new position will be leading Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 24 at the Athenaeum.
Born in Quito, Ecuador, Donoso is an accomplished poet whose work has been featured in The Cincinnati Review and The Threepenny Review. She has also served as a PEN/Faulkner Writer in Residence and was previously an editor for Folio Literary Journal.
Her poetry explores themes of migration, grief, girlhood, and motherhood. In 2023, she was a finalist for both the Akron Poetry Prize and the Gatewood Prize. Alongside her poetry, she works as a literary editor and translator.
Beyond her literary career, Donoso has 14 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist. She holds degrees in French Language and Literature and Anthropology from the University of Virginia. She also earned a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from American University.
With her diverse background and deep engagement with poetry, Donoso is set to bring a fresh perspective to Alexandria’s literary community.
Related topics: