Dr. Victoria (Vicky) Bañales (she/her/ella) is the 2025-2027 Watsonville Poet Laureate. A Chicanx writer, teacher, and mother, she is co-founder of the Writers of Color-Santa Cruz County, member of Círculo de Poetas & Writers, and founder of Xinachtli Journal (Journal X), a literary arts magazine focused on social justice, which was awarded the Superior Distinction by the National Council of Teachers of English. Her poetry, stories, and essays have appeared in various journals and anthologies. The recipient of two poetry awards and a teaching excellence award, she holds a Ph.D. in Literature and Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her debut poetry collection, The Sun Will Not Harm You by Day, Nor the Moon by Night, received a 2026 ILBA Best Poetry Book Award as well as an Honorable Mention in the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Poetry Book Award. Her writing has been supported by the Arts Council Santa Cruz County, Hedgebrook, Storyknife, Macondo, VONA, Rooted and Written, and Vermont Studio Center. In addition to writing poetry, she is working on a novel, titled Candelaria. She loves nature, especially oceans and mountains, and her go-to places are Pinnacles National Park and Garrapata State Park. The proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, she now calls Watsonville home after transplanting from Santa Barbara, CA. She teaches English composition and creative writing at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County.