Meet a Colleague: Josh Poole Josh Poole serves as copy services assistant.

W&L News Office
May 27, 2026

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
I have been at W&L for eight years.

Q. What is the favorite aspect of your job at W&L?
Servicing a Bizhub across campus when the campus looks postcard-pretty.

Q. If you chose a different path, what other career would you have?
I would have pursued an MFA in creative writing. I’ve had a satisfying literary career so far and even managed to place a fantasy novel with a traditional publisher this year, but I can’t help but wonder where I’d be if I’d gone the academia route rather than entering the workforce directly after high school.

Q. Where did you grow up?
I grew up near Jump Mountain, Virginia, about 30 miles northwest of Lexington.

Q. What was your favorite subject in school?
I can’t speak for university courses, but I enjoy anything related to language, literature, history, film and all things natural sciences.

Q. What three words describe you best?
Curious, crafty, Doritos.

Q. Name one person from history you would like to spend a day with and why.
The anonymous 17th-century poet who penned “Tom o’ Bedlam.” I’d love to know what other writings they might have made that went undiscovered, as their poem became an alehouse standard in folk song and the eponymous character even appeared in Shakespeare’s “King Lear” as Poor Tom.

Q. Who is the most famous person you have met and where did you meet them?
When I worked for the Museums here at the university, I had the pleasure of meeting the actor Giancarlo Esposito. I’ve also met Dave Grohl several times, but don’t have the heart to tell him I prefer Soundgarden.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Virginia humidity.

Q. What do you like to do away from work?
I write poetry, short stories and novels. Also enjoy landscape painting, illustration, collaging and have spent the last six years crafting samurai figurines from soda cans for a large project that should debut this year at the Rockbridge Community Festival. Outside of that “work,” I love the local restaurants, theater and the arcade.

Q. What is your least favorite chore at home?
Cleaning the kitchen sink strainer — Spine tingles.*

Q. What is your favorite family holiday tradition?
Thanksgiving dinner.

Q. What is the most adventurous thing that you have ever done?
I once traveled to Ohio to attend the Arnold Strongman Classic, which is a lifting/bodybuilding event. Getting to see Arnold Schwarzenegger in person was an all-time highlight for me, having grown up on his 80s and 90s films.

Q. What do you pretend to hate but secretly love?
Deadlines. I love cramming for a publisher/editor or rushing to apply the finishing touches on a commissioned artwork that’s “almost” complete.

Q. What is your all-time favorite food or food dish?
I’ve worked in a lot of kitchens before entering my current role, but I really love a trashy cheeseburger with American cheese and pickles on a brioche.

Q. Where would you choose to build your dream home?
Lexington or nearby. I moved here a decade ago and have long decided to make it my permanent home.

Q. What is your all-time favorite book?
“Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy, or “Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton.

Q. If you could choose one series to binge-watch, what would it be?
“Mystery Science Theater 3000,” but only if I get the original SYFY channel commercials with it.

Q. What song or artist could you play on repeat?
Elliot Smith, Nick Cave, Alice in Chains and … Alvvays.

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
Strangers don’t know about my writing/art, and my closest friends don’t know that I really love country/folk music. Until now, I guess.

Q. Anything else you’d like to share?
We all spend way too much time on our phones. Seriously. Garden or something.