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Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Jen Fawkes

 

EDUCATION

University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Ph.D. in English Literature and Creative Writing        2018

Dissertation:

SOMETIMES, THEY KILL EACH OTHER – story collection (creative)

"Defamiliarization, Parody, and the Evolution of Literary Genres" (critical)

Hollins University, Roanoke, VA

MFA in Creative Writing        2010

Thesis: THE DYNAMICS OF AN ASTEROID – story collection

Columbia University, New York, NY

BA in Anthropology       1996

VIEW PUBLICATIONS

FELLOWSHIPS, HONORS, AWARDS

  • Phillip H. McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Prose (Mannequin and Wife) 2023

  • World Fantasy Award Finalist – Story Collection (Tales the Devil Told Me) 2022

  • Foreword INDIES Silver Medal – Short Stories (Tales the Devil Told Me) 2021

  • Porter Fund Literary Prize 2021

  • Foreword INDIES Gold Medal – Short Stories (Mannequin and Wife) 2020

  • Foreword INDIES Honorable Mention – Literary Fiction (Mannequin and Wife) 2020

  • Shirley Jackson Award Nominee (Mannequin and Wife) 2020

  • Press 53 Award for Short Fiction 2020

  • The Pinch Fiction Prize. Winner 2019

  • Harpur Palate – John Gardner Memorial Fiction Prize. Winner 2019

  • Atticus Review Flash Fiction Prize. Winner Third Prize 2019

  • Italo Calvino Prize. Finalist 2009 and 2019

  • C. Michael Curtis Book Prize – Hub City Press. Finalist (1 of 5) 2018

  • Sequestrum Editor's Reprint Award. Runner-up (1 of 2) 2018

  • Blue Earth Review Flash Fiction Prize. Winner 2014

  • Salamander Fiction Prize. Winner 2013

  • Washington Square Award in Flash Fiction .Winner 2013

  • Writers@Work 2012 Fellowship Competition. Honorable Mention – Fiction (1 of 2) 2012

  • The Ricking Fellowship. University of Cincinnati 2012 – 2014

  • Melanie Hook Rice Creative Writing Award. Novel Runner-up 2010

  • Full Graduate Fellowship. Hollins University 2008 – 2010

  • Trinity Foundation. Pine Bluff, AR. $20,000 Scholarship 1992 – 1996

  • Dean's List. Columbia University 1992 – 1996

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of Arkansas–Fayetteville, AR        

Visiting Assistant Professor of Fiction Writing        spring 2024

 

Courses taught:

   -ENG 3213 – Creative Writing – Craft of Fiction. Intensive reading and writing for undergrad fiction writers.

   -ENG 5023 – MFA Fiction Workshop. Intensive craft workshop for MFA fiction writers.

 

*At the U of A, I served on three MFA Thesis committees and helped judge the annual Departmental Prizes.

Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, LA       

Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing        2022-2023        

 

Courses taught:

   -ENG 4105 – Creative Writing – Capstone Fiction. Intensive workshop for senior undergrad fiction writers.

   -ENG 4005 – Creative Writing – Intermediate Fiction

   -ENG 4006 – Writing the Novel. Generative course in which students produce a substantial portion of a novel.

   -ENG 7106 – MFA Fiction Workshop – Transcending Genre. Course focused on producing work that employs          elements of various literary genres.

 

*At LSU, I served as Professionalization Officer for senior undergrads and graduating MFA students, and I served on            three undergraduate honors thesis committees.

West Liberty University ⎯ West Liberty, WV

Assistant Professor of English/Creative Writing        2018 ⎯ 2020

Courses taught:

  • ENG 360 ⎯ Creative Writing ⎯ Fiction. Intensive craft workshop for aspiring fiction writers

  • ENG 362 ⎯ Creative Writing ⎯ Creative Nonfiction. Intensive craft workshop for aspiring creative nonfiction writers

  • ENG 260 ⎯ Introduction to Creative Writing. General introduction to CW. Students practice the craft of writing in three genres: poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction

  • ENG 314 ⎯ American Romantic Literature. Literature of the American Renaissance (1830 ⎯ 1865)

  • ENG 202 ⎯ Literature Appreciation for Non-Majors. Various topics (Unreliable Narration, Literary Retellings) in three genres: poetry, fiction, and drama

  • ENG 101 ⎯ Composition I ⎯ Expository Writing. Reading for college writing, modes of expository writing, the importance of revision

  • ENG 102 ⎯ Composition II ⎯ Research Writing. Rhetorical analysis, synthesis of sources, research-based writing, the importance of revision

University of Cincinnati ⎯ Cincinnati, OH

Adjunct Instructor (English)                            2016 – 2018

Instructor/Graduate Assistant (English)        2012 – 2014

Courses taught as Adjunct (online via Blackboard LMS):

  • English Composition 2089 (Intermediate Composition) – Discourse Communities

  • English Composition 1001 – Rhetorical Analysis and Research-based Writing

Courses taught as Instructor/Graduate Assistant (face to face):

  • Introduction to Creative Writing – Fiction – Intensive craft workshop for aspiring fiction writers

  • English Composition 1001 – Rhetorical Analysis and Research-based Writing

PRESENTATIONS

"Hogwarts on the Hilltop"        Mini-Conference: West Liberty University       Fall 2018

  • "J.K. Rowling: Creative Genius or Common Thief?" By closely examining four texts from which Rowling is believed (by some) to have "borrowed," I addressed this question: can the things we consider to be "creative" ever by "original?" Or are all attempts at human creativity mere thievery?

PUBLISHING AND RELATED EXPERIENCE

Ampersand, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV

Faculty Advisor/Editor        2018 –2020

  • During the 2018 – 2019 school year, I helped revive Ampersand, the student literary journal of West Liberty University (founded in the 1970s) and move the journal to an online format. As Advisor, I led Editorial Board meetings, read all submissions, worked on ordering/layout, proofread, and organized and hosted a party/reading to celebrate the journal's launch.

The Hollins Critic, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA

Assistant Editor        2009 – 2010

  • My duties included researching a featured author and composing his or her biography, and assisting the Editor with layout using InDesign software.

Shenandoah, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA

Editorial Assistant        2009 – 2010 

  • Screened submissions, corresponded with authors,  proofread copy, and helped order the material that appeared in the 60th Anniversary issue of the magazine. I also handled general office tasks such as copying, answering emails, and culling/organizing backstock of issues.

Children's Literature, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA

Copy Editor        2009

Hollins University English Department. Hollins University, Roanoke, VA

Graduate Assistant        2008 – 2010

  • I helped coordinate and set up author readings and program gatherings.

Paul Dry Books. Philadelphia, PA

Freelance Manuscript Reader        2003 – 2004

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

West Liberty University 2018 – 2020:

  • IRB (Institutional Review Board) Committee

  • Faculty Senate (Alternate)

  • Hughes Lecture (annual event that brings a prominent American author to campus) Committee

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Association of Writers and Writing Programs – 2008 to present

  • Modern Language Association –2017 to present

SKILLS

  • Proficiency with all MS Windows/Office programs and applications

  • Proficiency with Blackboard LMS/Experience setting up and running online writing/English courses

  • Editorial experience

  • Familiarity with the world of literary journals/publication

  • Leadership skills gained via teaching and management positions

  • Interest in literary trends, techniques, and pedagogy

  • Basic reading knowledge of French

  • Experience working in both large research university and small liberal arts college settings

A female marionette
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