Evan Lavender-Smith

Evan Lavender-Smith serves as Assistant Professor of Creative Writing in the Department of English at Virginia Tech's College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. He concurrently holds leadership positions including Vice President of Virginia Tech’s Faculty Senate, Co-Director of the Glossolalia Literary Festival, Secretary of Phi Beta Kappa’s Mu of Virginia Chapter, and member of the Studio 72 Living-Learning Community advisory board.

Education:

• University of California at Berkeley
• New Mexico State University

Lavender-Smith's creative and scholarly work centers on experimental cross-genre forms that dissolve boundaries between fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, and philosophy. His practice emphasizes fragmented narratives, unpunctuated prose, and minimalism while exploring philosophical inquiries through innovative compositional techniques. As a literary translator and editor, he actively engages with multilingual writing and avant-garde traditions, particularly through his foundational work with independent presses.

His publications consistently demonstrate a commitment to pushing formal boundaries, with recurring themes of sensory perception, ephemeral communication, and spatial narratives. The evolution from early works like Continent. to books such as Avatar reveals deepening exploration of monologic structures and cosmic perspectives, while maintaining rigorous engagement with contemporary literary theory and composition practices.

Awards and Recognitions:

• Listed on Readers' Favorite Books from Independent Presses (Huffington Post)
• Listed on Your Favorite Poets' Favorite Books of Poetry (Flavorwire)
• Small Press Distribution Bestseller for 'Avatar'
• Noted in Best American Nonrequired Reading
• Noted in Best American Essays
• Fellow at Vermont Studio Center
• Fellow at Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts

Through his editorial leadership at Noemi Press and Puerto del Sol, Lavender-Smith has significantly shaped contemporary literary landscapes by publishing boundary-pushing works from major authors. His service as juror for organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts and Creative Capital demonstrates institutional recognition of his expertise, while his translation of Pablo de Rokha's 6,500-word poem represents a major contribution to cross-cultural literary exchange. Though specific grant histories aren't detailed, his fellowships at prominent arts centers indicate sustained support for his creative research.

As Co-Director of the Glossolalia Literary Festival, he cultivates community engagement with experimental writing, while his advisory role in Studio 72 integrates creative practice with residential education. These initiatives form interconnected ecosystems supporting emerging writers through publication opportunities, festival platforms, and living-learning environments that bridge academic and creative communities.