Shenandoah University Hosts Author Dare Williams
The Southern California-based poet starred in English Department's guest writer series, hosted workshop for students
By Jace Gibson ’26
During the 2026 Spring Term, Smith Library hosted Dare Williams, a Southern California-based queer poet and literary worker, for a reading and Q&A event as a part of the Shenandoah University English Department’s semesterly guest writer series. This event also marked the beginning of Shenandoah’s partnership with the Peter Bullough Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports emerging artists and the arts by providing interdisciplinary residencies, hosting workshops, lectures, and events, and sharing the rare book and art collections of the late Dr. Peter Bullough.
Dare Williams’ work highlights themes of family, community, class divides and, of course, the queer experience. His poems are written in a distinctly visual, almost granular style that interprets meaning through meditations on oil stains in driveways, grocery stores as sites where social classes meet, and other often overlooked details of day-to-day life. As always, it was an honor to host such an adept poet on campus, and I’d like to extend an extra thanks to Dare for hosting a workshop event the following day that helped foster the skills of the local literature and arts community within Winchester.”
Jon Udelson, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of writing
The event began with a selection of student writers who each read excerpts from their projects. Then, Williams read a selection of poems, which, in large part, speak to his struggles and experiences with queerness, HIV, and memory, all written through a distinctly visual lens. During the reading, Williams spoke about his process of writing poetry, giving copious details on the inspirations and ideas behind each piece before the event opened up for audience questions. Williams also hosted a workshop event the following day, allowing students to learn to see the world in a new, more poetic lens while also producing some work of their own.
“I cannot overstate the welcoming energy I felt upon arriving here. I do not take people’s attention for granted. So, thank you for everyone attending and everyone who read,” said Williams. “A quality of my work is using and exploring this idea of the poet’s camera work. Simply put, I like to make use of the cinematic, especially when dealing with memory or an event that I, myself, have difficulty navigating through.”
With the Williams reading, the English Department’s guest writer series officially finished its fifth year and remains a popular Beyond the Classroom (BTC) event.
For more information about Dare Williams’ work, visit darewilliams.com.
