Virginia State University Leaders Chosen To Help Shape The Future Of The Commonwealth
Governor Abigail Spanberger appoints two VSU leaders to distinguished statewide positions advancing literature, public policy, and opportunity for all Virginians.
Virginia State University continues to expand its influence across the Commonwealth as Governor Abigail Spanberger has selected two University leaders to serve in prestigious statewide appointments that will help shape Virginia's future. Dr. Latorial D. Faison has been named Virginia Poet Laureate, while Eldon L. Burton has been appointed to the Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission.
As Virginia's Poet Laureate, Dr. Faison, Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Languages & Literature, will promote poetry and literature, encourage appreciation for the literary arts, and celebrate the Commonwealth’s rich literary heritage through public engagement. The appointment is one of the highest literary honors in the state.
An accomplished poet, educator, and literary scholar, Dr. Faison has earned national recognition for her contributions to contemporary poetry and scholarship. In 2025, her acclaimed poetry collection, Nursery Rhymes in Black, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, bringing national attention to her powerful exploration of history, identity, culture, and the African American experience. Her
appointment as Virginia Poet Laureate reflects her enduring contributions to Virginia's literary and cultural landscape.
Burton, Senior Associate Vice President for Government Relations and Special Assistant to the President, will serve on the newly established Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission, the nation's first permanent, legislatively created state body dedicated to examining issues affecting boys and men. As a member of the Commission, he will help develop recommendations to strengthen educational achievement, workforce participation, health outcomes, public safety, and overall well-being.
Burton brings more than a decade of experience in government relations, public policy, higher education, and workforce development. At VSU, he leads the University's state and federal government relations efforts, advancing initiatives that strengthen higher education, economic development, workforce readiness, and student success.
From advancing Virginia's literary heritage to strengthening opportunities for Virginia's boys and men, these appointments demonstrate how Virginia State University faculty and staff continue to shape the future of the Commonwealth.