James Vincent Xexaviar is completing a doctoral degree in literature and criticism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. An award-winning poet, Xexaviar completed his undergraduate work at Otterbein College, in his home state of Ohio. He has published two volumes of poetry entitled Untold Thoughts and Words Left Unspoken and Beautiful Sorrow. Xexaviar has lectured at many conferences and institutions on orality, aurality, textuality, and performance, as well as about his own poetry.