The Program

Come to USI for a beginning to advanced study of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, playwriting, and screen writing with published writers committed to undergraduate writing excellence and their craft.

The English Department offers a 42-hour Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis as well as a 24-hour Creative Writing Minor and a 15-hour Creative Writing Certificate.

Become a part of an exciting literary community and join The Student Writers Union; work on the Aerie, the student literary magazine; apply for scholarships to The RopeWalk Writers Retreat; apply for internships for the Southern Indiana Review, and enjoy the talents and knowledge of nationally known writers through the RopeWalk Visiting Writers Series.

Freshman scholarships are available.

For information contact Matthew Graham, Director of Creative Writing at: mgraham@usi.edu.

We look forward to working with you!

The Faculty

Matthew Graham - Associate Professor of English/Director of Creative Writing

• Master of Fine Arts, The Writers Work Shop, University of Iowa.
• Books: New World Architect (poetry, Galileo Press, 1985), 1946 (poetry, Galileo Press, 1991), World Without End (poetry, River City Press, 2006)

Nicole Louise Reid - Assistant Professor of English/Creative Writing

• Masters of Fine Art, George Mason University
• Books: In The Breeze of Passing Things (fiction, MacAdam/Cage, 2003)

Patricia Aakhus - Assistant Professor of English/Creative Writing, Director of International Studies

• Bachelor of Arts, Theatre, University of California at Santa Cruz
• Masters of Fine Arts, Vermont College
• Books: The Voyage of Mael Duin’s Curragh (fiction, Storyline Press, Wolfhound Press, 1992) Daughter of the Boyne (fiction, Wolfhound Press, 1993) Sorrows of Tara (fiction, Wolfhound Press, 1995)

Leisa Belleau - Instructor of English/Creative Writing

• Masters of Arts, Southern Illinois University

Ron Mitchell - Instructor of English/Creative Writing

• Masters of Arts, University of Missouri