1987–1988 John Updike, Pulitzer Prize Author

1988–1989 Joyce Carol Oates, Author, Roger S. Berlind, Distinguished Professor, Princeton University

1989–1990 Richard Wilbur, Pulitzer Prize Poet

1990–1991 Ray Bradbury, Author

1991–1992 Kurt Vonnegut, Author

1992–1993 Athol Fugard, Playwright

1993–1994 Gwendolyn Brooks, Pulitzer Prize Poet

1994–1995 Michael A. Dorris, Author and Founder of the Native American Studies Program, Dartmouth University

1995–1996 Virginia Hamilton, Children's Author

1996–1997 Eavan Boland, Irish Poet

1997–1998 Charles Johnson, National Book Award-Winning Author

1998–1999 Writer's Week: Distinguished Alumni Writing Fellows Residency Joshua D. Dean, Class of 1995, “Magazine Editing and Writing for Youth” Joyce Coyne Dyer, Class of 1969, “Writing Creative Nonfiction” Terence A. Hermsen, Class of 1972, “Poetry Writing and Teaching” Martin D. Lammon, Class of 1980, “Poetry Writing and Teaching” Distinguished Writer Presentation: Lois Raimondo, Photojournalist and Author, Class of 1981

1999–2000 Marvin Bell, poet A two-week residency with public reading

2000–2001 David K. Shipler, Pulitzer Prize-winning Author and Journalist (Also Distinguished Author)

2001–2002 May-lee and Winberg Chai '55, Nominees for the National Book Award

2002–2003 Maxine Hong Kingston

2003–2004 Calvin Trillin (Fred R. Leventhal Family Endowed Lecturer)

2005-2006 Tim O'Brien, Author of "Going after Cacciato," winner of the 1979 National Book Award in fiction