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Submit for the 2026 Academy of American Poets Prize
Apr. 21, 2026—Since 1968, Vanderbilt University has participated in the Academy of American Poets College Prize. Many of America’s most esteemed poets won their first recognition through this distinguished award, including Toi Derricotte, Louise Glück, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Robert Pinsky, Sylvia Plath, and Ocean Vuong. Alumna and poet Kiyoko Reidy (MFA ’22), a recent guest...
Melissa Range to join Vanderbilt Reading Series – April 16
Apr. 9, 2026—VU Literary Prize Winner Melissa Range will join the Vanderbilt Reading Series, after publishing her new collection of poems, Printer’s Fist, with Vanderbilt University Press in April 2026. The Reading Series and The Press will co-host the event. Thursday, April 16 Alumni Hall 202 – 23rd Ave N, Nashville, TN 6:00 Literary Salon & Reception...
Second-year MFA student Lana Reeves announces book deal
Apr. 6, 2026—Penguin Random House will publish second-year MFA student Lana Reeves‘ debut poetry collection KAMA’ĀINA in 2027. Lana hails from O’ahu, Hawai’i and received her BA with honors from Harvard University, where her thesis, under the direction from former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, was certified summa cum laude. Learn more about Lana and her work...
Creative Writing Program to host reading of MFA graduates – April 23
Apr. 6, 2026—On Thursday, April 23, the Creative Writing Program will celebrate our graduating cohort with a reception and reading of new work, featuring Langston Cotman, Kumari Devarajan, Ajla Dizdarević, Sydney Mayes, Athena Nassar, and Iman Saleem. Thursday, April 23 Alumni Hall 202 Memorial Hall 6:00 PM Reception 7:00 PM Reading Open to the public ...
SWING literary magazine event features MFA professor Tony Earley – March 25
Mar. 12, 2026— Wednesday, March 25 6:30 PM Reading Vanderbilt Special Collections Library 1101 19th Ave South Nashville, TN 37212 On Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30pm, join Nashville’s Porch Writers’ Collective and Vanderbilt’s Special Collections and University Archives to celebrate the launch of the latest issue of...
Major Jackson featured in Vanderbilt Research News
Jan. 30, 2026—Director of Creative Writing and Department of English Professor Major Jackson provides his writing expertise in “Devouring the Art of Language.” “Lyric poetry has as its material the dazzling complexity and beauty of raw emotions and thought, which can be awkward and embarrassing,” Jackson said. “My classes are about normalizing the conversations we have with...
MFA Student Sydney Mayes Awarded The FSG Writer’s Fellowship
Dec. 18, 2025—The 2026 FSG Writer’s Fellowship has been awarded to the poet Sydney Mayes. President and Publisher of FSG Mitzi Angel says: “Sydney Mayes is a poet of talent and originality. Her work is at once lucid and lyrical, archivally informed and new, cerebral and attentive to the body. Drawing from intimate and national histories, from...
Vanderbilt Creative Writing Announces MFA Student Reading at The Southern Festival of Books
Oct. 10, 2025—Vanderbilt Creative Writing and The Nashville Review will host an MFA Student Poetry and Fiction Reading at The Southern Festival of Books on Sunday, October 19. Featured writers include Ayesha Asad, Alexandra Green, Kinsale Drake, Athena Nassar, Eliana Reeves, and Kanchi Sharma. The reading begins at 11:30 on the side lawn of the Tennessee State...
Assistant Professor Didi Jackson Wins 2025 Tennessee Book Award for Poetry
Sep. 25, 2025—On September 8, Humanities Tennessee announced Assistant Professor Didi Jackson as the Winner of the 2025 Tennessee Book Award for Poetry. Jackson’s work has been described as “A remarkable book, not only for the phenomenal texture and musicality of its language, but equally for its stunning imagery and metaphorical constructs.” Read more here.
See Our Calendar
Aug. 6, 2025—Check out our department calendar for academic deadlines and upcoming events!