"The Writers In The Gallery reading series was conceived in 1997-98 by the late Gail McKinney, Art Gallery Director at UWF, and the late Laurie O'Brien, Director of Creative Writing.  Their idea was to provide a way for the community as well as UWF students, faculty, and staff to attend and appreciate literary and visual arts in one artistic setting.  Since its inception, the series has attracted standing-room-only crowds and has featured nationally known artists, poets, and novelists including Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey and National-Book-Award-Finalist Brad Watson. UWF student writers and artists are featured in the spring with readings by the winners of the Laurie O'Brien Creative Writing Awards.  The Writers in the Gallery events fulfill the University's mission to offer interdisciplinary programs of excellence that serve the community in extraordinary ways."