Nonfiction Program Featured in @LAS

Featured in @LAS, The Annual Magazine of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, a new article titled "Creating Nonfiction" puts the spotlight on Nonfiction faculty members David Lazar, Jenny Boully, and Aviya Kushner, as well as students Ryan Spooner, Sharon Burns, Jennifer Tatum-Cotamagaña and Tatiana Uhoch.

Click here for more information on @LAS and to read the article.

Micah McCrary Receives DFI Fellowship

From the Columbia College Website:


Micah McCrary, a graduate student enrolled in the new Creative Writing–Nonfiction MFA program in the Department of English, recently received a selective fellowship from the Diversifying Faculty in Illinois (DFI) Program, which includes a $10,000 grant.


Only 130 students received a fellowship through the program this year, and in fact, it is uncommon for MFA students to receive this fellowship, as the bulk of recipients are PhD students, according to DFI.


The DFI Program is administered by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and aims to help students in underrepresented groups earn graduate degrees as they work toward a career as a faculty or staff member at an institution of higher education in Illinois. Fellows have the option of reapplying for another academic year when their fellowship is complete.


McCrary, also a freelance journalist, said receiving this fellowship will certainly help him with his future teaching endeavors.


“I'd ultimately like to work in higher education; teaching, research, and administration are all interests of mine at the moment, and that's something I'd very much like to see through,” he said. “[But right now], I've been having a great time being embedded in the academics of my program at Columbia.”


Congratulations, Micah!

MFA Candidates Win First and Second Place in South Loop Review Essay Contest

Wes Jamison won first place for his essay "The Secret Garden," and Ryan Spooner won second place for his essay "On the Lifespan of a Fact." Both essays were selected by Jenny Boully and will be published in volume thirteen of South Loop Review: Creative Nonfiction + Art. Congratulations Wes and Ryan!

Ryan Spooner Wins Cutbank Lyric Essay Contest

Ryan Spooner's essay "Ineffable" was selected as the winning entry for the 2011 Big Fish Lyric Essay contest at Cutbank. The essay will be published online and in the upcoming print issue this winter. Congratulations Ryan!

Nonfiction Students to Read at Printer's Row Lit Fest

Just around the corner, on June 4 and 5, MFA candidates in Columbia's Nonfiction Program will read from their work at Chicago's annual Printer's Row Lit Fest and Book Fair. Candidates Micah McCrary, Ryan Spooner, and Jennifer Tatum-Cotamagaña will have selections of essays and/or poetry to be read at the festival, located along Dearborn St. between Polk and Harrison streets.

Also in the lineup are recent Poetry Program grads and MFA candidates Jeffrey Allen, Stephen Danos, Liz Chereskin, Steve Roggenbuck, Holly Amos, Ryan Courtwright and Thomas Nowak.

The Printer's Row Lit Fest will take place from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on June 4 and 5. Please come out to show your support for our students and join in on the fun!

View the full schedule of events here.

Nonfiction Students Host Bomb & Bird May 19th

Here it comes with a keening falsetto: 

 

BOMB & BIRD

an open-mic reading series dead-set on sacrificing silence.

Half garden path, half freight-train derailment, BOMB & BIRD wants your sweaty palms, your dry throat, and your nervous tics.

We want your poem, your prose, your cereal box top. Give us your best. Give us your worst.

We'll give you five minutes.

Reading spots are first-come, first-served.

Here we are, gussied in our itchy polyester, asking you to join us.

When?
7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 19

Where?
Innertown Pub, 1935 West Thomas Street.

There you are, coy and considering, and with nothing to do but show up, sign up, and speak up.

Jennifer Tatum-Cotamagaña to Read in The Pocket Lab Reading Series

Thursday, May 5th, Jennifer Tatum-Cotamagaña will read at the Pocket Lab Reading Series in Minneapolis, MN. For more details, visit the Pocket Lab blog.