BACHE, the Birmingham Area Consortium for Higher Education, is a partnership among the five four-year colleges and universities in the greater Birmingham area: Birmingham-Southern College, Miles College, Samford University, University of Montevallo, and University of Alabama at Birmingham. Created by the presidents in 1996 to advance academic excellence through collaborative activities and shared resources, BACHE enhances educational opportunities for students and provides services and support to faculty, staff and the community.
The Visiting Writers’ Series is one of the cornerstones of BACHE. Each academic year, the BACHE VWS brings three esteemed authors to give readings at each of the five campuses; the author also answers audience questions, and signs books. Since its inception, it has featured myriad award-winning poets and writers at readings, whose audiences include university students, faculty, and staff as well as lovers of literature from around the region. Some of the past authors are listed below:
Chantel Acevedo
Rilla Askew
Poe Ballantine
Mary Jo Bang
Mei-mei Berssenbrugge
Don Bogen
Rebecca Brown
Lorna Dee Cervantes
Judith Ortiz Cofer
Charles D’Ambrosio
Kate Daniels
Bei Dao
Kathryn Davis
Cornelius Eady
Beth Ann Fennelly
Nikky Finney
H.E. Francis
Tom Franklin
Gregory Fraser
Anthony Grooms
Edward Hirsch
Jane Hirshfield
Ravi Howard
Andrew Hudgins
Honorée Fanonne JeffersTayari Jones
Allison Joseph
Sheri Joseph
Michael Kardos
Thomas E. Kennedy
Michael Knight
Li-Young Lee
Joan McBreen
Campbell McGrath
Heather McHugh
Reginald McKnight
Barbara Robinette Moss
Antonya Nelson
Marilyn Nelson
Lewis Nordan
Jack Pendarvis
Carol Pierman
Bin Ramke
George Singleton
Natasha TretheweyBrian Turner
Ron Wallace
Brad Watson
C.D. Wright
Jake Adam York (in memoriam)
Kevin Young
BACHE Visiting Writers' Series 