Claudia Emerson ’75 Writer in Residence Announced

Chatham Hall is excited to announce that Jenny Hubbard, acclaimed author of And We Stay, will serve as the 2025–2026 Claudia Emerson ’75 Writer in Residence.

Hubbard will visit campus on Monday and Tuesday, April 27 and 28, delivering a community keynote address on the evening of Monday, April 27. During her visit, she will engage with students and faculty through classroom conversations, small group discussions, and shared community experiences.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Jenny Hubbard to Chatham Hall,” said Dr. Melissa Mitchem, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Research. “Her work speaks directly to the emotional depth and complexity of adolescence, and her voice will resonate powerfully with our students as they continue to develop their own as writers and thinkers.”

 

Hubbard is widely recognized for her evocative, introspective writing for young adults. Her novel And We Stay, inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and set at a girls’ boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, explores themes of grief, guilt, and healing. The novel earned a Michael L. Printz Honor from the American Library Association and was named a Best Young Adult Book of the Year by The Boston Globe and Kirkus Reviews, among others.

 

Her debut novel, Paper Covers Rock, set at a Southern boys’ boarding school, explores themes of responsibility and identity. It was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award and was recognized as a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal, as well as a Booklist Top 10 First Novel for Youth.

In addition to her novels, Hubbard contributed “The Babysitters” to Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens and Guns, demonstrating her engagement with complex and timely issues affecting young people. Her forthcoming novel, What Girls Keep in Their Pockets, is scheduled for release in May 2027.

 

Hubbard taught English for 20 years, including a decade at Woodberry Forest School, and now resides in her hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina. She also shared that she had the opportunity to collaborate on a poetry project with Claudia Emerson ’75, adding a meaningful connection to this residency.

 

Given her commitment to exploring the inner lives of young people with honesty and depth, Jenny Hubbard is an inspiring choice for the Claudia Emerson ’75 Writer in Residence. We look forward to welcoming her to campus.