[1] Belieu was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, graduating from Central High School.
In September 2006, Belieu was invited to join the Wave Press Poetry Bus Tour, along with notable poets such as Matthew Zapruder, Joshua Beckman, Eileen Myles and Arthur Sze.
In August 2009, Belieu cofounded the national feminist organization VIDA: Women In Literary Arts, notable for its influential annual survey of the rates of publication between male and female authors.
This VIDA survey, known as The Count, has been highly influential in addressing sweeping gender bias in contemporary American literary publishing.
Belieu formerly served as VIDA's co director, along with notable American poet Cate Marvin.