We can trace the roots of our organization back more than a century to the founding of Poetry magazine by Harriet Monroe in 1912. To this day, Monroe’s vision, expressed through her “Open Door” policy, informs our work.

Staff and trustees at the Poetry Foundation are also guided by the following organizational values established in 2022:

  • Sharing + Collaboration
  • Equity + Access
  • Innovation + Growth

Learn more about the mission, vision, and values that guide our work.  


Office of the President

Michelle T. Boone, President and CEO
Rebecca Sword, Senior Administrative Assistant and Board Liaison

Finance & Administration

Orlando Abarca, Facilities Assistant
Nevertha Brooks, Staff Accountant
Jennifer Casteller, Chief Operating Officer
Yolanda Davis, Human Resources Director
Tom Etherington, Accounting Manager
Chris Guzaitis, Director of Grants and Awards
Whitney Hallberg, Business and Circulation Manager
Annie Jackson, Finance Assistant
Rebeca Jurado, Grants and Awards Assistant

Programs & Engagement

Jonathan Antos, Guest Experience Assistant
Itzel Blancas, Community Programs Manager
Noa Fields, Public Programs Manager
Angelica Flores, Education Programs Assistant
Fran Grinnan, Cataloging Intern
Justine Haka, Education Programs Manager
Michael Keating, Guest Experience Representative
Evalena Lakin, Library Assistant
Katherine Litwin, Library Director and Exhibitions Co-curator
Ydalmi Noriega, Vice President of Programs and Engagement
Maggie Queeney, Library Adult Programs Manager

Information Technology

Keri Cascio, Vice President of Information Technology
Janet Cheung, Web Producer
Meg Forajter, Permissions Coordinator
Erin Watson, Product Manager

Marketing Communications and Creative

Moyo Abiona, Media Associate
Allison Claybon, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Liz O’Connell-Thompson, Media Manager
Meredith Riemersma, Communications Manager
Fred Sasaki, Creative Director and Exhibitions Co-curator

Editorial

Holly Amos, Managing Editor
Lindsay Garbutt, Senior Editor
Jeremy Lybarger, Prose Editor
Adrian Matejka, Editor
Shoshana Olidort, Prose Editor
Robert Eric Shoemaker, Digital Archivist