The City of Alexandria has appointed Maria Cristina (Cristi) Donoso as its next Poet Laureate, succeeding Zeina Azzam, whose term concludes in April 2025.
An Ecuadorian American poet, writer, editor, and translator, Donoso’s work has appeared in Pleiades, Waxwing, The Journal, The Cincinnati Review, The Threepenny Review, Best Small Fictions 2024, and more. She is a former PEN/Faulkner Writer in Residence and a past editor of Folio Literary Journal. Most recently, she was a finalist for both the 2024 Akron Poetry Prize and the 2024 Gatewood Prize.
Born in Quito and now residing in Alexandria, Donoso’s poetry often explores themes of migration, girlhood, grief, and motherhood. She is passionate about the role of art in both personal and public life and actively advocates for accessibility in literary, educational, and creative spaces.
Beyond her literary achievements, Donoso has spent 14 years as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. She holds a B.A. in French Language and Literature and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Virginia, as well as a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University. She later earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from American University.
One of Donoso’s first official engagements as Poet Laureate will be leading Alexandria’s “Poem in Your Pocket Day” event on Thursday, April 24, at the Athenaeum (201 Prince St.). The event begins at 6:30 p.m., with a formal program at 7 p.m. Donoso will be joined by the winning poets of the 2025 DASHing Words in Motion poetry contest, whose work will be featured inside Alexandria’s DASH buses and trolleys throughout April.
The Poet Laureate serves a three-year term, continuing the City’s tradition of celebrating poetry and creative expression. Past Poets Laureate include Wendi Kaplan, Mary McElveen, Amy Young, Tori Lane Kovarik, Ryan Wojanowski, KaNikki Jakarta, and Zeina Azzam.
The Alexandria Poet Laureate program was reestablished in 2007 to promote appreciation of poetry as an art form; to encourage creative writing and reading of all forms of literature; and to promote literacy through poetry.
Visit the City’s Literary Programs webpage for more information.
If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you. Please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3960.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Cheryl Anne Colton at CherylAnne.Colton@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5565, Virginia Relay 711.