Two Poets, One Alma Mater
A conversation with Lancee Whetman and Willy Palomo
by Kevin Randall (MSC ’22)
Lancee Whetman (’17) and Willy Palomo (’15) have both found their voices as poets since graduating. While their paths are unique, they share a deep connection through Westminster’s influence on their lives and work.
In addition to writing poetry, Lancee works full-time as a judicial law clerk in Alaska. She has released three poetry collections: Blinded by Feeling, Further West & Fireweed, and Chapped Lips, which was published February 14, 2025.
Willy (they/she/he) is an advocate, educator, organizer, and translator in addition to their work as a poet. Their debut poetry collection, Wake the Others, won the 2024 Foreword Poetry Prize. In November 2024, their Spanish-to-English translation of Tres Tercas Trincheras by Marielos Olivo was published in a trilingual edition by Edizioni FormArti.
Here, Willy and Lancee reflect on their experiences as students, the journey to becoming poets, and the role of poetry in society.
How would you describe the national, global, and/or local climate during your time as a student? How did it affect you?
Lancee Whetman:
“From 2013 to 2017, the world was marked by significant social, political, and technological changes, which shaped the experience of many students , including mine. The 2016 presidential election was particularly polarizing, and the rise of Donald Trump as a political figure led to debates about the future of the country. Movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo were gaining momentum, bringing attention to systemic racism, police brutality, and gender inequality. The legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015 marked a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ rights. Going to school at Westminster made me more politically and socially conscious and allowed me to think critically about the world in a way I had not before, which has helped me in all facets of my life—as a poet and as an attorney.”
Willy Palomo:
“My time as a student was marked by some of the same events Lancee mentioned. Locally, the murders of Darrien Hunt and Dillon Taylor drove me and my peers into the streets and brought the demands of the Black Lives Matter movement home. The Obama administration’s record-breaking forced removals of undocumented refugees also filled me with rage and began unwinding the indoctrination I underwent in Utah public schools. My time at Westminster made me a savvy codeswitcher, diplomatic and assertive. This skill has served me well in roles where I have advocated for minoritized communities in rooms full of fascists and neoliberals.”
How did Westminster University shape your journey in becoming a professional poet?
Lancee:
“While I didn’t know I wanted to be a poet when I attended Westminster, it was a crucial time for self-discovery. My undergraduate years were filled with questions about my identity and purpose, even though poetry wasn’t on my radar yet. I later found that poetry was a way for me to synthesize my legal studies and my creative side. It’s now the work I want to do for the long haul.”
Willy:
“Westminster was where I met mentors who shaped my craft, like Natasha Sajé, who helped me understand the profession of being a poet. Through Westminster, I also got to compete at the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI) and be in community with some of the best young poets of my generation. That experience helped me find my voice as a writer and advocate.”
How has your approach to writing poetry evolved since your time at Westminster?
Lancee:
“Back at Westminster, I wasn’t as aware of poetry’s formalities. Now, as a lawyer, I break every rule when I write poetry. It’s chaotic, unrestrained, and very different from my day job. I mainly write free verse and avoid structure, focusing instead on intuition and the heart of the poem.”
Willy:
My time at Westminster and CUPSI taught me how to cut through the silences that exist in our communities regarding race, class, and so forth; but a lot of my work imagined Utahans as my audience, and that was severely limiting. Leaving Utah was critical to my evolution, because it's crucial to shift your audience as a writer and see how your work changes. My whole life I had to write with white people looking over my shoulder. Leaving Utah allowed me to finally throw their voices out of my head and write the book I needed to for my family and other refugee communities first.”
What are some challenges you’ve faced as poets, and how have you overcome them?
Lancee:
“Financial insecurity is probably the main challenge, which requires supplemental income or a 9-5 job. Secondarily, rejection and criticism for a unique writing style and voice may seem risky to traditional publishers.”
Willy:
“I spent years organizing high-school poetry slams that became safe havens for survivors, students of color, and LGBTQ+ teens whose bodies were literally being outlawed, targeted by book bans, and worse. Much of my life’s work as an artist goes to fostering spaces where these silenced voices can speak freely. In Utah, Plumas Colectiva is one of those spaces. We continue to create these spaces despite repression.”
Have you seen poetry impact your readers in unexpected ways? Can you share any specific experiences?
Lancee:
“I’ve had people tell me that my poetry helped them through difficult times or inspired them to write. One of the most memorable experiences was when a stranger told me my poetry saved their life. That moment reinforced my belief in the power of art and the human connection it fosters.”
Willy:
“My work has opened up space for Central Americans to talk about the wounds of the US-funded wars and genocides in our homelands and to have these conversations with their families. At events, survivors have felt safe enough to share what happened to them and feel a tiny piece of restoration through community and understanding.”
How do you balance personal expression with the desire to create a shared experience with readers?
Lancee:
“Poetry is deeply personal, but I always write with the reader in mind. I want my poems to resonate universally, even if they stem from my own experiences. It’s about being honest in my work and hoping that truth connects with others.”
Willy:
“I worry much less about this question the deeper I root myself in the communities and thought I value. The creative process for me is frequently a conversation with the people I play, work, and learn with. Publication just helps spread the word about the mutual understanding I’ve already built with others.”
What advice would you give to people interested in creative careers?
Lancee:
“Enjoy the process and don’t worry about where it leads. Writing is as much about staying sane as it is about creating art.”
Willy:
“Running a successful business and creating with authenticity and power are two dramatically different things. If you want to make poetry your career, you need to master both.”
Where do you see your writing taking you in the next few years?
Lancee:
“I’m planning to publish more collections and work on interdisciplinary projects with artists from other fields. I’d love to use my law background to address critical issues in society through my poetry. Poetry will always be a journey, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.”
Willy:
“I’m currently querying agents with a manuscript entitled 42 Years. The novel revolves around the extraordinary life of my Tia Tere, a survivor of three military abductions during the Salvadoran Civil War and a single mother who spent 42 years undocumented in the United States. I hope to have that book, plus some more poetry collections and raps, out in the world doing their work.”
How do you think literature, especially poetry, can contribute to societal change?
Lancee:
“Poetry has always been a powerful tool for raising awareness. It gives a voice to the marginalized and can spotlight issues that need attention. I think all artists have a responsibility to engage with social and political issues in some way.”
Willy:
“My family comes from a country where poets literally waged war against the US empire and its fascist puppet government and almost won. A former guerrillera recently told me that in their darkest hours, music and poetry gave them the strength to move forward to do their necessary work. Literature changes the world by making change imaginable and bearable.”
Learn more: palomopoemas.com vigilancee.org
About the Westminster Review
The Westminster Review is Westminster University’s bi-annual alumni magazine that is distributed to alumni and community members. Each issue aims to keep alumni updated on campus current events and highlights the accomplishments of current students, professors, and Westminster alum.
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