Creative Writing Program 30th Anniversary

ASU Creative Writing has been an ascendant, exciting, evolving program since its inception in 1985.

Ours has been a faculty that has received national and international attention, generating Guggenheim fellowships, NEA fellowships, several Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award nominations. Our students, too, have gone on to win multiple prizes, Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships, publish books, and secure university teaching positions. Program innovation and exemplary mentorship from a superior faculty combine to define pragmatic, successful outcomes for Master of Fine Arts students—new century graduates we distinguish, because of the community outreach opportunities we offer, as artist-citizens.

Over the course of its 30 year history, ASU Creative Writing has become a force in contemporary American literature. As teachers themselves, our alumni have helped to shape the next generation of American writers and artist-citizens. This exceptional program is, we hope, something for us all to celebrate.

Join us in celebrating 30 years!  1985-2015

A Special Thanks to the founders of the MFA Program in Creative Writing: Norman Dubie, Alberto Rios, and Karla Elling

Friday, September 11, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m.   
Norman Dubie: The Quotations of Bone
Off-campus: Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ
ASU Regents' Professor Norman Dubie, a founder of the MFA Program in Creative Writing, presents his twenty-ninth collection of poetry.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m.  
Melissa Pritchard: A Solemn Pleasure
Off-campus: Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ
ASU Professor Melissa Pritchard, who teaches fiction for ASU Creative Writing, reads from her new book of essays.

Thursday, October 1 - Saturday, November 14, 2015 
Write Now: A Photographic and Letterpress Exhibit
Tempe campus: Hayden Library Upper Concourse
An exhibit featuring printmaker Karla Elling, photographer Rebecca Ross, and ephemera from the history of ASU's MFA Program in Creative Writing.

Thursday, October 1, 2015 @ 7:30 p.m. 
Poetry Reading & Opening of "Write Now" Exhibition
Tempe campus: Hayden Library Upper Concourse
Poets Alberto Ríos, Jeannine Savard, and Sally Ball read as part of the grand opening of an exhibit celebrating 30 years of Creative Writing at ASU. The exhibit will feature the work of photographer Rebecca Ross and printmaker Karla Elling.

Thursday October 8, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m. 
Out of Silence, an Afghan Women's Writing Project Event
Off-campus: Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ
Directed by Professor Melissa Pritchard and introduced by MFA alumnus Bojan Louis (MFA 2009). Readings by Aria Curtis, Elissa Hutson, Jackie Balderrama, Maria Alvarez, Sara Sams, and Kathryn Hill.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015 @ noon - 1:15 p.m.
New Wars, New Warriors: The Rose, A Hero's Journey
In 2009, Professor Melissa Pritchard embedded with Team Lion, a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan. Pritchard traveled on peaceful missions with Sr. Airman Ashton Goodman and other military women, seeing first-hand the struggles of Afghan women. She tells the story of the Afghan Women's Writing Project and the Ashton Goodman Fund, now in its sixth year. Her presentation concludes with a tribute to Ashton's courage and her dedication to Afghan women's rights. Part of ASU's Salute to Service Programming and co-sponsored by the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.

Thursday, November 5, 2015 @ 6:30 p.m. 
A Reading by David St. John and Anna Journey
Tempe campus: Memorial Union Pima Auditorium (MU 230)
Two poets from the University of Southern California read from their work.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 @ 6:00 p.m. 
30th Anniversary Gala
Tempe campus: ASU Art Museum
Celebrating 30 years of Creative Writing at ASU. Featuring readings by MFA alumni Adrienne Celt (MFA 2012) and Oliver de la Paz (MFA 1999) and Creative Writing faculty Tara Ison, Melissa Pritchard, Matt Bell, Beckian Fritz Goldberg, and Cynthia Hogue. Alumni Dan Breazeale (MA 1981) and Dean Stover (BAE 1975; MFA 1986) will jointly present a jazz poem with piano.

All events were free of charge and open to the public. For more information, please contact Jennifer Irish, Assistant Director of Creative Writing: jennifer.irish@asu.edu