Dr. Amanda Greenwell, ’20 (Ph.D.), an Associate Professor of English at Central Connecticut State University, was named this year’s winner of the Children’s Literature Association’s Book Award for her recent publication The Child Gaze: Narrating Resistance in American Literature. Dr. Greenwell was featured on Fox 61 for her work associated with this award, which was […]
Alumni
Where Are They Now
Several alumni of the Department’s Creative Writing Program reported updates in their careers since completing their degrees: Tim Stobierski ‘11(CLAS) has recently had poems published or on the way in Poetry Ireland, Chicago Quarterly Review, Baltimore Review, Midwest Quarterly, Chestnut Review, Crab Creek Review, &change, EOAGH, Chiron Review, Gathering of the Tribes Magazine, and elsewhere. He’d served as one of the judges for the 2025 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry, presented by The […]
Chelsea Dodds ‘10 (CLAS) releases “Nothing Good Will Get Away”
Chelsea Dodds’s ‘10 (CLAS) debut poetry chapbook, Nothing Good Will Get Away, is set to be published May of 2026 from Finishing Line Press. Congratulations, Chelsea!
Mike Pontacoloni ‘09 (CLAS), ’11 (MA) releases poetry chapbook and wins award
Mike Pontacoloni ‘09 (CLAS), ’11 (MA) who has had many successes in the past few years has added another to his collection. Mike’s poetry chapbook, “Anadromous Fish of the Farmington River”, won the 2025 Quarterly West Chapbook Prize and will be published later this year. Congratulations, Mike!
m.mick powell, ‘15 (BA) releases “Dead Girl Cameo”
m. mick powell, ‘15 (BA) has released a new book of poems, Dead Girl Cameo, which was published by Penguin Random House in August of 2025. Congratulations, Mick!
Miller Oberman ‘17 (PhD) featured as Poet of the Day
Miller Oberman ‘17 (PhD) was highlighted as the Poet of The Day at the national Poetry Daily site on July 19th. The featured poem, “Theory”, featured is from Miller’s second book, “Impossible Things”, now available for purchase on Duke UP. Congratulations, Miller!
Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah ‘15 (CLAS) to be Boston’s next Poet Laureate
Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah ‘15 (CLAS) has been chosen to be the fourth Boston Poet Laureate and will assume the role for four years. Their goal is to continue to build on the work of previous poets laureate and to encourage people to be more engaged in poetry. Congratulations, Emmanuel!
Will Hines ’92 (CLAS) featured in UConn Magazine
Will Hines, ’92 (CLAS), was recently featured in UConn Magazine for his successful career as a character actor and a respected improv teacher in venues like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.
Kashawn Taylor, ‘13 (CLAS) releases “subhuman”
A collection of poetry by Kashawn Taylor ’13 (CLAS), subhuman, was released in March 2025 by Wayfarer Books. One of his poems, These Headphones Should Be Free, was featured in their April 2025 Poetry magazine and can be found on the Poetry Foundation website. Congratulations, Kashawn!
Alex Mika ‘21(CLAS), ‘22 (MA) to Perform Play in NYC
Alex Mika ‘21(CLAS), ‘22 (MA), who is currently a PhD candidate in the Penn State Department of English, is co-producing on a musical, In the Wake, at the Green Room 42 in New York City on February 23rd. Livestream passes are also available from the venue. Congratulations, Alex!