Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ph.D.

Mattie Quesenberry Smith, Ph.D. was named the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Poet Laureate by Governor Youngkin on November 26, 2024, a role in which she will serve a two-year term.

She recently earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI & SU) with a concentration in cross-disciplinary, integrative approaches to teaching writing and technology and engineering design-based learning. She is a professor at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington where she teaches first-year writing and rhetoric classes. She writes in several creative genres, including screenplays, memoirs, short personal essays, and poetry. Dr. Smith is a skilled educator and community facilitator mentoring local writers and developing writing workshops.

The VCA is excited to be working with Dr. Smith in partnership with our Poetry Out Loud (POL) initiative. At the 2025 POL state finals she provided a morning workshop for student competitors in addition to reading her poetry and serving as an awards presenter.

To connect with Dr. Smith for readings and workshops visit her website.