Marlanda Dekine
Poet Laureate of Georgetown County Libraries, 2025–
Marlanda Dekine is a Black, queer, freshwater Gullah descendant. She received her BA in psychology from Furman University, her MSW in social work from the University of South Carolina, and her MFA in poetry from Converse University.
Dekine is the author of two poetry collections: Thresh & Hold (Hub City Press, 2022) and i am from a punch & a kiss (Self-published, 2017).
Dekine’s awards and honors include an Individual Artist Fellowship from the South Carolina Arts Commission and a Fresh Voice of the Year Award from South Carolina Humanities.
The poet laureate of Georgetown County Libraries, Dekine is also a social worker and consultant. She lives in Georgetown, South Carolina, on Chicora, Waccamaw, Sewee, Pee Dee, and Catawba land.