Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Jen Fawkes
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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)
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Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
MFA in Creative Writing 2010
Thesis: THE DYNAMICS OF AN ASTEROID – story collection
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Columbia University, New York, NY
BA in Anthropology 1996
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VIEW PUBLICATIONS
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FELLOWSHIPS, HONORS, AWARDS
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Phillip H. McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Prose (Mannequin and Wife) 2023
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World Fantasy Award Finalist – Story Collection (Tales the Devil Told Me) 2022
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Foreword INDIES Silver Medal – Short Stories (Tales the Devil Told Me) 2021
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Porter Fund Literary Prize 2021
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Foreword INDIES Gold Medal – Short Stories (Mannequin and Wife) 2020
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Foreword INDIES Honorable Mention – Literary Fiction (Mannequin and Wife) 2020
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Shirley Jackson Award Nominee (Mannequin and Wife) 2020
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Press 53 Award for Short Fiction 2020
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The Pinch Fiction Prize. Winner 2019
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Harpur Palate – John Gardner Memorial Fiction Prize. Winner 2019
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Atticus Review Flash Fiction Prize. Winner Third Prize 2019
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Italo Calvino Prize. Finalist 2009 and 2019
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C. Michael Curtis Book Prize – Hub City Press. Finalist (1 of 5) 2018
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Sequestrum Editor's Reprint Award. Runner-up (1 of 2) 2018
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Blue Earth Review Flash Fiction Prize. Winner 2014
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Salamander Fiction Prize. Winner 2013
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Washington Square Award in Flash Fiction .Winner 2013
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Writers@Work 2012 Fellowship Competition. Honorable Mention – Fiction (1 of 2) 2012
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The Ricking Fellowship. University of Cincinnati 2012 – 2014
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Melanie Hook Rice Creative Writing Award. Novel Runner-up 2010
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Full Graduate Fellowship. Hollins University 2008 – 2010
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Trinity Foundation. Pine Bluff, AR. $20,000 Scholarship 1992 – 1996
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Dean's List. Columbia University 1992 – 1996
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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.
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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.
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West Liberty University ⎯ West Liberty, WV
Assistant Professor of English/Creative Writing 2018 ⎯ 2020
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Courses taught:
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ENG 360 ⎯ Creative Writing ⎯ Fiction. Intensive craft workshop for aspiring fiction writers
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ENG 362 ⎯ Creative Writing ⎯ Creative Nonfiction. Intensive craft workshop for aspiring creative nonfiction writers
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ENG 260 ⎯ Introduction to Creative Writing. General introduction to CW. Students practice the craft of writing in three genres: poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction
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ENG 314 ⎯ American Romantic Literature. Literature of the American Renaissance (1830 ⎯ 1865)
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ENG 202 ⎯ Literature Appreciation for Non-Majors. Various topics (Unreliable Narration, Literary Retellings) in three genres: poetry, fiction, and drama
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ENG 101 ⎯ Composition I ⎯ Expository Writing. Reading for college writing, modes of expository writing, the importance of revision
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ENG 102 ⎯ Composition II ⎯ Research Writing. Rhetorical analysis, synthesis of sources, research-based writing, the importance of revision
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University of Cincinnati ⎯ Cincinnati, OH
Adjunct Instructor (English) 2016 – 2018
Instructor/Graduate Assistant (English) 2012 – 2014
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Courses taught as Adjunct (online via Blackboard LMS):​
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English Composition 2089 (Intermediate Composition) – Discourse Communities
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English Composition 1001 – Rhetorical Analysis and Research-based Writing
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Courses taught as Instructor/Graduate Assistant (face to face):
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Introduction to Creative Writing – Fiction – Intensive craft workshop for aspiring fiction writers
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English Composition 1001 – Rhetorical Analysis and Research-based Writing
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PRESENTATIONS
"Hogwarts on the Hilltop" Mini-Conference: West Liberty University Fall 2018
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"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?
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PUBLISHING AND RELATED EXPERIENCE
Ampersand, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV
Faculty Advisor/Editor 2018 –2020
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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.
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The Hollins Critic, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
Assistant Editor 2009 – 2010
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My duties included researching a featured author and composing his or her biography, and assisting the Editor with layout using InDesign software.
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Shenandoah, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Editorial Assistant 2009 – 2010
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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.
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Children's Literature, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
Copy Editor 2009
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Hollins University English Department. Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
Graduate Assistant 2008 – 2010
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I helped coordinate and set up author readings and program gatherings.
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Paul Dry Books. Philadelphia, PA
Freelance Manuscript Reader 2003 – 2004
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UNIVERSITY SERVICE
West Liberty University 2018 – 2020:
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IRB (Institutional Review Board) Committee
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Faculty Senate (Alternate)
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Hughes Lecture (annual event that brings a prominent American author to campus) Committee
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MEMBERSHIPS
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Association of Writers and Writing Programs – 2008 to present
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Modern Language Association –2017 to present​​​
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SKILLS
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Proficiency with all MS Windows/Office programs and applications
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Proficiency with Blackboard LMS/Experience setting up and running online writing/English courses
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Editorial experience
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Familiarity with the world of literary journals/publication
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Leadership skills gained via teaching and management positions
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Interest in literary trends, techniques, and pedagogy
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Basic reading knowledge of French
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Experience working in both large research university and small liberal arts college settings
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