Luisa A. Igloria, Ph.D.

Poet

Norfolk, VA
Virginia US

Author's Bio

LUISA A. IGLORIA is a tenured Professor of English and Creative Writing at Old Dominion University, where she served as Director of the MFA Creative Writing Program from 2009-2015. In July 2020, Governor Ralph Northam appointed her the 20th Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia. She was named the inaugural Glasgow Distinguished Writer in Residence at Washington and Lee University (Spring Term 2018). She is the author of Maps for Migrants and Ghosts (2020 Crab Orchard Open Poetry Prize Co-Winner), What is Left of Wings, I Ask (selected by former US Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey as the winner of the 2018 Center for the Book Arts Poetry Chapbook Prize); as well as The Buddha Wonders if She is Having a Mid-Life Crisis (Phoenicia Publishing, Montreal, March 2018), Ode to the Heart Smaller than a Pencil Eraser (selected by Mark Doty for the 2014 May Swenson Prize, Utah State University Press), Night Willow (Phoenicia Publishing, Montreal, 2014), The Saints of Streets (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2013), Juan Luna's Revolver (2009 Ernest Sandeen Prize in Poetry, University of Notre Dame Press), Trill & Mordent (WordTech Editions, 2005), and 8 other books including Encanto (Anvil, 2004), and In the Garden of the Three Islands (Moyer Bell/Asphodel, 1995). Author Website: www.luisaigloria.com

Publications & Prizes

Books:
Maps for Migrants and Ghosts (Southern Illinois University Press, 2020)
,
The Buddha Wonders if She is Having A Midlife Crisis (Phoenicia Publishing, 2018)
,
What is Left of Wings, I Ask (Swamp Press, 2018)
,
Night Willow (Phoenicia Publishing, 2014)
,
Ode to the Heart Smaller than a Pencil Eraser, 2014 May Swenson Prize, selected by Mark Doty (Utah State University Press, 2014)
,
The Saints of Streets (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2013)
,
Juan Luna's Revolver (2009 Ernest Sandeen Prize) (University of Notre Dame Press, 2009)
,
Trill & Mordent (WordTech Editions, 2005)
,
Blood Sacrifice (University of the Philippines Press, 1998)
,
Songs for the Beginning of the Millennium (De La Salle University Press , 1997)
,
In The Garden of the Three Islands (Moyer Bell, 1995)
,
Encanto (Anvil Publishing, Inc, 1994)
,
Cartography (Anvil Publishing, Inc, 1992)
Chapbook:
Bright as Mirrors Left in the Grass (Kudzu House Press, 2015)
Prizes won: 

The Academy of American Poets awarded Luisa A. Igloria a 2021 Poet Laureate Fellowship, along with 22 other poets laureate across the nation. In July 2020, she was appointed the 20th Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Other honors include the 2019 Crab Orchard Poetry Open Prize for Maps for Migrants and Ghosts (Co-Winner; Southern Illinois University Press); the 2018 Center for the Book Arts Letterpress Poetry Chapbook Prize for What is Left of Wings, I Ask (selected by former US Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey); 2nd Prize in the 2018 Bridport Poetry Prize, UK (selected by Daljit Nagra); the 2015 (Inaugural) Resurgence Prize for Poetry (selected by former UK Poet Laureate Andrew Motion; Alice Oswald; and Jo Shapcott); the 2014 May Swenson Prize for Ode to the Heart Smaller than a Pencil Eraser (selected by Mark Doty for Utah State University Press); and The 2009 Ernest Sandeen Poetry Prize for Juan Luna's Revolver (University of Notre Dame Press).

Other honors include the 2007 49th Parallel Poetry Prize; the 2007 James Hearst Poetry Prize (selected by former US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser); the 2006 National Writers Union Poetry Prize(selected by Adrienne Rich); the 2006 Richard Peterson Poetry Prize (Crab Orchard Review); the 2006 Stephen Dunn Award for Poetry; the 2004 Fugue Poetry Prize(selected by Ellen Bryant Voigt); Finalist, the 2003 Larry Levis Editors Prize for Poetry, The Missouri Review; Finalist, the 2003 Dorset Prize (Tupelo Press); the first Sylvia Clare Brown Fellowship,Ragdale Foundation (2007); two Pushcart Prize nominations; a 1998 Fellowship at the Hawthornden Castle International Retreat for Writers in Scotland.

Originally from Baguio City in the Philippines, Luisa is also an eleven-time recipient of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature in three genres (poetry, nonfiction, and short fiction) and its Hall of Fame distinction; the Palanca award is the Philippines' highest literary distinction.

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Asian American
Prefers to work with: 
Adults
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Makati, PHILIPPINES
Raised in: 
Baguio City, Philippines
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jun 29, 2021