T158.
It’s Possible: Advocating for Two-Year College Creative Writing Students
Thursday, March 9, 2023
12:10 pm to 1:25 pm
As members of underserved populations, community college students are often overlooked as potential writers by the writing community and themselves. Students may underestimate the value of pursuing a creative writing class, program, or career. Panelists from institutions across the country who teach diverse, high-risk, low-income students will discuss the challenges of recruiting students into creative writing programs and how they overcome various obstacles while fostering literary citizenship.
Participants
Courtney O’Banion Smith has a master of fine arts in creative writing-poetry from Texas State University-San Marcos. Her work has appeared in various publications including Relief, Barren magazine, and The Ocotillo Review. Currently, she teaches literature and writing in Houston.
Marlys Cervantes serves as department chair of Humanities & Communication and director of the creative writing program at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas. She teaches literature and writing courses, and serves as codirector of the Multi-Cultural Scholars Program and as an academic advisor.
Maria Brandt teaches creative writing at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, where she advises students from pre-entrance through the Capstone experience. She has published a novella, a short-play collection, and several short stories, along with materials supporting other program advocates.
James Ducat is a poet and associate professor of English at Riverside City College, where he is editorial advisor to the literary magazine, Muse, and teaches creative writing and composition. He holds an MFA from Antioch University, L.A., as well as an MA in composition/rhetoric.
Victoria Moore is faculty adviser of Hive Avenue, NorthWest Arkansas Community College's student lit journal. She is also the coordinator of NWACC's AFA in creative writing.
