Erika Meitner

Erika Meitner is an Associate Professor of English at Virginia Tech, where she directs the M.F.A. program in creative writing. Her work focuses on poetry, literary arts, and narrative techniques. She has held prestigious fellowships at institutions like The MacDowell Colony and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and served as a Fulbright Scholar at Queen’s University Belfast (2014-2015).

• Primary affiliations: Virginia Tech Department of English, M.F.A. Creative Writing Program

Her research interests include contemporary poetry’s intersection with social commentary, identity exploration, and experimental form. Her publications blend lyrical precision with thematic depth, addressing topics like memory, place, and cultural critique.

Notable awards include the 2009 National Poetry Series win for Ideal Cities. Her poems appear in journals such as Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, and The New York Times Magazine.

Meitner’s academic leadership includes directing graduate creative writing programs and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through grants and residencies.