Christopher Merrill (Chair) is the author of many books of poetry, nonfiction, and translation, among them On the Road to Lviv; Flares; The Tree of the Doves: Ceremony, Expedition, War; and Self-Portrait with Dogwood. He directed the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa from 2000–2025, and served on both the National Council on the Humanities and the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

(Photo credit: Tim Schoon)