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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

  • 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

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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:

  • 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

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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):​

  • English Composition 2089 (Intermediate Composition) – Discourse Communities

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

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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

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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

  • 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

  • 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 

  • 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

  • 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:

  • IRB (Institutional Review Board) Committee

  • Faculty Senate (Alternate)

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

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MEMBERSHIPS

  • Association of Writers and Writing Programs – 2008 to present

  • Modern Language Association –2017 to present​​​

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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

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A female marionette
© 2021 by Jen Fawkes. All rights reserved.
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