Maria McDonnell is a poet and writer who teaches writing and literature courses at Albright College. Her poems have been published in print and online literary magazines including Paradigm, Steel Point Quarterly, and Parlor. She has received awards from Writer’s Digest and Mulberry Poets and Writers Association. In 2012, Maria was named Berks County Poet Laureate. Her poem “Joyride” was nominated for Pushcart Prize XXXIII (2009 edition). In 2008, her first book-length collection of poetry, First I Learn My Name, was published by FootHills Publishing. She also published a chapbook of poetry titled Running Up Spring Street. For a number of years, she served on the board of directors for the grassroots poetry organization, Berks Bards, and as a judge for the Berks County Young Poets poetry contest. In May, Maria will be reading an original essay in the live storytelling show, Listen to Your Mother. Maria is an ultramarathoner who loves running almost as much as carb-loading. She’s a NYT Crossword junkie who has competed in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Because of her youngest son, she’s a dedicated advocate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy awareness. Most of all, she loves spending time with her friends, her husband, her dogs, and her three grown sons.