syracuse creative writing faculty

Orange Alert

A&s’ creative writing program introduces new undergraduate degree.

The renowned program now offers a 30 credit major and 18 credit minor.

Jan. 29, 2021, by Dan Bernardi

The Department of English’s signature creative writing program – home of the renowned M.F.A. in creative writing – will now offer a new bachelor of arts degree. Building on the nationally ranked master’s program, the new creative writing major and minor are open to students with an interest in developing their skills as writers and readers of creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry.

The new B.A. marks a milestone for the creative writing program, which previously only housed an M.A. (1962-1994) and M.F.A. (1994-present) since its founding in 1962. For the first time, talented undergraduate writers can enroll in the program, which concentrates on the craft and quality of literary writing. They will address the challenges of the literary process with their fellow writers under the guidance of highly accomplished faculty authors, including Mona Awad, Dana Spiotta, Jonathan Dee, Brooks Haxton, Bruce Smith, Matt Grzecki, Sarah Harwell and Christopher Kennedy.

The creative writing major is 30 credits and combines a grounding in literary study with a workshop-style focus on writing. Students will learn to effectively use language to create complex and emotionally powerful experiences in the form of stories, poetry and creative nonfiction. Coursework will include literature, creative writing workshops and craft classes. Creative writing workshops focus on the students’ own creative work, while craft classes such as Reading and Writing Poetry and Fairytales in Fiction are classes where students “read like writers” – learning craft and literary techniques from the work of established writers. The creative writing minor requires students to take 18 credits of craft classes and creative writing workshops.

Coran Klaver, associate professor and department chair of English, says students will benefit from a course of study designed specifically for undergraduate creative writers. “The new creative writing major continues to draw on the strengths of our literary and screen studies curriculum of the Department of English, while also providing undergraduate students with customized workshops and crafts courses,” Klaver says. “I am thrilled that our students will now have the ability to focus on their passion for creative writing through this new major, as well as to work more closely with our talented creative writing faculty members.”

Christopher Kennedy, professor of English and director of the M.F.A. program, says, “I’d like to thank A&S Dean Karin Ruhlandt for the opportunity to create the undergraduate degree and Sarah Harwell for all her hard work to bring it to fruition.”

Students in the B.A. program can utilize myriad creative writing resources, including the well-established Raymond Carver Reading Series , opportunities to meet with visiting writers and highly talented graduate students who will help guide undergraduates, and an undergraduate creative writing club called “Write Out.”

First-year students can also choose to live in the Creative Writing Learning Living Community (LLC), where they can meet fellow students and create friendships, network with faculty and established authors through public readings and LLC dinners, and explore their passion for reading and writing poetry, fiction, graphic novels, creative nonfiction or any other types of writing.

According to Sarah Harwell, associate director of the creative writing program, in addition to being authors, graduates with a creative writing degree can also go on to careers in the fields of publishing, public relations, marketing, advertising, web design, media design, branding, social media communications, teaching, publishing, editing, grant writing, journalism, technical writing, health care professions and computer science.

“Nearly every profession is in need of highly skilled writers to interpret technical fields to the general public, to create compelling stories, and to compress and synthesize information so that it is gripping and persuasive,” Harwell says.

The program is now accepting students. For more information about enrolling, email Sarah Harwell at [email protected] .

Coran Klaver Associate Professor

Christopher Kennedy Professor

Sarah Harwell Associate Teaching Professor and Associate Director of Creative Writing

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Dan Bernardi

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Acclaimed Novelist Empowers Students as Artists

Dana Spiotta loves the sense of discovery that comes with writing fiction. As an English professor and author of five novels, she imparts this passion to students in the creative writing program in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences , inviting them to grapple with the challenges inherent in the writing process. Her newest novel, Wayward , is a New York Times Critics’ Top Pick of the Year that delves into the complexity of individual experience while revealing the author’s appreciation for the history, architecture and natural beauty of the Syracuse area. Spiotta draws inspiration from teaching students and is committed to empowering the ever-widening community of artists being nurtured through the program.

Also of Interest

The College of Arts and Sciences

The founding college of Syracuse University remains at the center of undergraduate learning. The College is divided into the natural sciences and mathematics, the humanities, and the social sciences, with the lattermost offered in partnership with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Creative Writing Program

The Creative Writing major is designed for students who have an intense interest in cultivating the skills, knowledge and inventiveness needed to write creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry.

WRT 114: Introduction to Creative Nonfiction

WRT 114 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction (3 credits) Class Size: 15-20

Faculty: Ivy Kleinbart, Professional Writing Instructor, Syracuse University Administrative Contact: Sean Conrey, Associate Director, Project Advance   

Course Catalog Description

Nonacademic writing; creative nonfiction, memoir, the essay. Students write texts experimenting with style, genre, and subject; read contemporary nonfiction texts by varied authors; attend lectures/readings of visiting writers.

Course Overview

Writing 114 provides an introduction to creative nonfiction (CNF), a genre that encompasses many kinds of prose: memoir, biography, travel writing, science writing, and literary journalism, to name a few.  CNF writers almost always—in some way or other—focus on the tensions that emerge between individuals and the world around them.  Thus, the title of this course, “Writing Culture,” refers to writing about oneself and others in the context of a broader culture.  How do we negotiate cultural norms, expectations, rituals, and practices?  How does culture shape us as individuals?  To what degree do we absorb or resist our cultural influences?  And how do we, as individual actors and witnesses to our world, shape the culture in which we live?  These are just a few of the many questions we’ll ask ourselves as we move through this course.  

In this class, students will read and reflect upon a variety of creative nonfiction texts, as well as compose their own essays.  Students will have the freedom to explore a wide range of topics and experiment broadly with voice, style, form, and the use of research to enrich their writing.  

Rather than present reality as a series of raw facts, CNF writers borrow techniques of fiction writing— description, anecdote, scene construction, characterization, and dialogue—to tell dynamic and compelling true stories. The crucial distinction between creative nonfiction and fiction is that nonfiction purports to tell the truth with very little embellishment, while fiction claims to be “made up.” Creative nonfiction also draws from poetic approaches to language, including imagery, metaphor, tone, and shifts in point of view and perspective.  We’ll study these building blocks of creative nonfiction and use them in the composition process.

Since this is an intensive writing class, we’ll often engage in writing workshops in class, including brainstorming and freewriting activities, and structured peer critiques. Students will need to come to class prepared to write. All students will need a dedicated notebook for this purpose.

Pre- /Co-requisites

Course objectives.

• Students will read and critically engage with creative nonfiction texts representing a diverse range of topics, subgenres, and perspectives.
• Students will learn about, and put into practice, conventions and characteristics of creative nonfiction.                                                                                                                           
• Students will learn about, and put into practice, conventions and characteristics of creative nonfiction.
• Students will explore relationships between research and creative nonfiction, and learn conventions for incorporating research into their texts. 
• Students will develop an awareness of audience, and work to construct an ethos and voice that responds to audience needs and expectations. 
• Students will experiment with voices, styles and forms.
• Students will reflect on their writing processes.

Required Materials

Tell It Slant: Creating, Refining, & Publishing Creative Nonfiction , 3rd Edition; Miller & Paola, McGraw-Hill, 2019 Hard Text – ISBN: 1260454592 eText – ISBN: 9781260454604 (McGraw-Hill, Marjie Sullivan, 315-488-4167 or 800-338-3987)

In Short: A Collection of Brief Creative Nonfiction, Kitchen & Paumier Jones, Norton, 1996 Paperback – ISBN: 9780393314922 (W.W. Norton & Co., 800-233-4830, you will receive a 20% discount for 1-9 and 45% on 10 or more)

In Fact: The Best of Creative Nonfiction, Gutkind, Norton, 2004 Paperback – ISBN: 9780393326659 (W.W. Norton & Co., 800-233-4830, you will receive a 20% discount for 1-9 and 45% on 10 or more)

SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTARY READERS (Anthologies) Wide latitude is given for choosing the fiction and non-fiction texts students will read.  If instructors intend to use a “reader,” the titles below have been approved.

Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction , 1st Edition; Williford & Martone, 2007    ISBN: 9781416531746 (available via Amazon)

Instructor Recommendations

The WRT 114 course requires creative writing pedagogies that aren’t necessarily familiar to ELA teachers who are used to teaching literature and composition, therefore instructors applying for this course should have extensive experience in one or more of the following:

• Disciplinary coursework in creative writing, preferably at the graduate level (MFA preferred but not required)
• Instructional experience in disciplinary creative writing, including workshop participation/pedagogy
• Extensive independent experience as a practicing creative writer

The instructor’s writing sample should follow or consciously subvert conventions of creative nonfiction.

Collin Gifford Brooke, Chair of the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition 239 H.B. Crouse 315-443-1091

Lois Agnew, Patrick W. Berry, Collin Gifford Brooke, Kevin Adonis Browne, Lenny Grant, Alicia Hatcher, Krista Kennedy, Brice Nordquist, Eileen E. Schell, Tony Scott, Joseph Wilson

The Syracuse University Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition has been a national leader in the field of rhetoric and composition for almost 30 years. Chartered in 1987, the department was at the forefront of a national trend of establishing independent academic units focused entirely on writing research and instruction. Since then, we have maintained our strong focus on introductory writing and professional communication, while expanding our scope to create an innovative curriculum that engages with writing studies at every level.

The department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition is also home to The Writing Center (H.B.Crouse 101; 315-443-5289), a resource for all writers at Syracuse University. See our web site at wrt.syr.edu for more information.

Major in Writing Description

As a Writing and Rhetoric Major, you will explore the power of language across a range of genres in ways that will help you to compose in a rapidly changing world. Our major offers classes that will give you the opportunity to practice digital, argumentative, research, civic, science, professional, and technical writing as well as creative nonfiction. You will also consider culture, ethics, identity and language as they relate to writing in and out of school.

Working in small, student-centered classes taught by attentive, award-winning faculty, you will gain the skills needed for a variety of today’s existing careers as well as the adaptability to succeed in jobs that are just emerging.

Graduates of the Writing and Rhetoric Major  have gone on to be successful in a variety of careers including public relations, marketing, public advocacy, editing and publishing, teaching, and business. Some go on to pursue advanced degrees in law, medicine, and the humanities. The major is both rigorous and flexible, allowing students to pursue what they love while deepening their critical thinking, composing, and creative problem-solving skills. The major is open to any SU student, and many find it to be an excellent second major.

The Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition is home to a  highly ranked doctoral prog ram . Our faculty invite students to examine language as embedded in history and culture, from diverse rhetorical traditions to emerging technologies to ethics, investigating the relationships among writing, rhetoric, identity, literacy, and power.

For all Arts and Sciences|Maxwell students, successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in this major requires a minimum of 120 credits, 96 of which must be Arts and Sciences|Maxwell credits, completion of the Liberal Arts Core requirements, and the requirements for this major that are listed below.

Dual Enrollments:

Students dually enrolled in Newhouse* and Arts and Sciences|Maxwell will complete a minimum of 122 credits, with at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences|Maxwell coursework and an Arts and Sciences|Maxwell major.

*Students dually enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences|Maxwell as first year students must complete the Liberal Arts Core . Students who transfer to the dual program after their first year as singly enrolled students in the Newhouse School will satisfy general requirements for the dual degree program by completing the Newhouse Core Requirements.

If you would like to learn more about the Writing and Rhetoric Major, feel free to email us at  [email protected]  or phone at  (315) 443-1091 . We can arrange an opportunity for you to meet our faculty or majors and see our dedicated study space.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Produce well-reasoned, well-evidenced arguments

2. Produce texts that exhibit an ethical stance toward topic and audience

3. Produce rhetorically astute work in multiple modalities

4. Produce texts that engage with issues of the interactions of power, identity, culture, and literacy in their rhetorical and social complexity

5. Produce texts that engage the historical and cultural contexts of genres and practices of writing

6. Engage in primary and secondary research and reflect on their research practices and processes

Requirements

To qualify for a B.A. degree in Writing and Rhetoric, students complete a total of 30 credits of coursework. These credits include the required core courses WRT 255   , WRT 302   , WRT 307   , WRT 413   , three courses from Genres and Practices, and three courses from Histories and Theories.

Required Core Courses (12 credits)

• WRT 255 - Advanced Argumentative Writing
• WRT 302 - Advanced Writing Studio: Digital Writing
• WRT 307 - Advanced Writing Studio: Professional Writing
• WRT 413 - Rhetoric and Ethics

Genres and Practices (9 credits)

(students select 3)

• WRT 240 - Writing through Health, Wellness, and Illness
• WRT 301 - Advanced Writing Studio: Civic Writing
• WRT 303 - Advanced Writing Studio: Research and Writing
• WRT 304 - Indigenous Writing and Rhetoric
• WRT 308 - Advanced Writing Studio: Style
• WRT 331 - Peer Writing Consultant Practicum
• WRT 340 - Advanced Editing Studio
• WRT 417 - Technical Documentation & Usability
• WRT 419 - Advanced Technical Writing Workshop
• WRT 422 - Studies in Creative Nonfiction *
• WRT 425 - Digital Identities
• WRT 427 - Emerging Technologies in Professional & Technical Writing
• WRT 470 - Experience Credit (community or business-based internships: http://wrt.syr.edu/undergraduate/internships.html )

Approved Genres and Practices non-WRT courses**:

• ENG 401 - Advanced Writing Workshop: Poetry
• ENG 403 - Advanced Writing Workshop: Fiction
• NEW 205 - News Writing
• PRL 214 - Writing for Public Relations: Media and Messaging

Histories and Theories (9 credits)

• WRT 423 - African American Rhetoric
• WRT 424 - Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, Identity *
• WRT 426 - Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Technology *
• WRT 428 - Studies in Composition, Rhetoric and Literacy *
• WRT 436 - Feminist Rhetoric(s)
• WRT 437 - Rhetoric and Information Design
• WRT 440 - Studies in the Politics of Language and Writing *
• WRT 447 - Professional & Technical Writing in Global Contexts

Approved Histories and Theories non-WRT courses**:

• CRS 336 - Communication and Organizational Diversity
• CRS 338 - Communication in Organizations
• CRS 355 - Political Communication
• CRS 455 - Rhetorical Criticism
• CRS 483 - Rhetoric of Film
• ENG 325 - History and Varieties of English
• ENG 420 - Topics in Cultural Production and Reception
• ENG 440 - Topics in Theorizing History and Culture

*These courses are repeatable.

**At most, a total of two approved non-WRT courses (6 credits) from the above lists can be used toward the major.

Declaring a major

To declare a Writing and Rhetoric Major, students should complete the electronic Declaration of Major form in MySlice.

Distinction in Writing and Rhetoric

Students may earn the award of Distinction in Writing if overall cumulative GPA of 3.4 and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in WRT after taking at least four Writing and Rhetoric major courses to be eligible to enroll in WRT 495 - Senior Research Seminar I     in the fall (one credit) and WRT 496 - Senior Research Seminar II    in the spring of their Senior year (two credits) during which students must complete a thesis-length independent research or creative project. 

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Writing Our Lives provides Syracuse area youth with creative opportunities to write, create, produce, and share their stories. The program takes multiple formats, including after-school writing programs, summer writing institutes, book clubs, digital composing programs, theatrical performances, and an annual youth writing conference.

Professor Marcelle Haddix also engages faculty and staff from across the School of Education and Syracuse University to present and facilitate workshops, as well as both undergraduate and graduate students.

Community Engagement Fellows

The Writing Our Lives Community Engagement Fellowship is a unique opportunity for a community engaged teaching artist to develop and facilitate youth literacy and arts programming. This fellowship bridges creative teaching and community collaboration within the dynamic environment of Central New York. It provides an opportunity for teaching artists from an array of disciplines to explore cross-disciplinary programming that cultivates writing and literacy spaces for youth within and beyond school communities.

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• Develop and facilitate a Writing Our Lives program curriculum for adolescent youth writers;
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• Receive support for the advancement and advocacy of work generated during the year, along with continued access to Syracuse University resources and facilities during the course of the Fellowship.

2024 Syracuse University Scholars Announced

Twelve seniors have been named as the 2024 Syracuse University Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows.

The Syracuse University Scholars Selection Committee, a Universitywide faculty committee, selected the scholars using criteria that included coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation.

“These accomplished students have made the most out of their educational experience at Syracuse and have also contributed to our vibrant University community through research, creative work, public service and many other areas,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter. “We are proud to recognize them for their outstanding achievements.”

The 2024 Syracuse University Scholars are:

• Marwa Abedrabbah, a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Nicole Aponte, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications;
• Alana Coffman, an international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Edward (Cole) Fluker, a chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science;
• Alison Gilmore, a sport analytics major in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics;
• Yvonne Kuo, a psychology and forensic science major in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Mitchell Mazza, a psychology and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Yasmin Nayrouz, an English and textual studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences, a public relations major in the Newhouse School and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Mariana Pérez Lugo, a nutrition science major in the Falk College and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Julius Rauch, a finance and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises major in the Whitman School of Management;
• Matthew Snyder, a psychology and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and
• Iona Volynets, an international relations and history major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.
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Record Five Syracuse University Students Selected for Prestigious 2024 Goldwater Scholarship

Five Syracuse University students have been selected for the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate scholarship awarded in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the U.S. This is the first time Syracuse has had five students selected for the cohort and the third consecutive year the University has had at least three scholars selected in one year.

The recipients are:

• Julia Fancher, a sophomore physics and mathematics major in the  College of Arts and Sciences  (A&S) and a member of the  Renée Crown University Honors Program ;
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The Goldwater Foundation received 1,353 nominations this year from around the country and 438 students were selected for the scholarship.

You can read more about this year's scholars and how the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising supports Goldwater applicants in this SU News Story .

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Minor or Concentration

Get in Touch    David Lloyd Program Director Reilly Hall 316 Le Moyne College 1419 Salt Springs Road Syracuse, NY 13214 (315) 445-4100 Request Information

Welcome to the Creative Writing Program!

• A concentration within the English major
• A minor available to any student

According to a recent poll, 1,500 CEOs think the number one “leadership competency” is creativity. From solving problems to doing in depth research, creativity matters in real world situations. While it takes critical thinking to identify a problem, it takes creative thinking to come up with solutions. Creative Writing at Le Moyne can help develop your creative side.

The Creative Writing Curriculum

• Playwriting
• Scriptwriting (TV and film)
• Creative Nonfiction
• Special topics (including “the short story cycle” or “food as metaphor”)
• Independent studies for specialized writing projects

Whether they share their passion with others or nourish a secret talent, many students write poems, stories, plays, and scripts. The Creative Writing Program offers a stimulating and supportive environment for students to pursue their passion for imaginative writing. We’ll help find the writer in you. Detailed information about the creative writing program can be found in the Le Moyne College catalog .

Meet the Faculty

• David Lloyd Program Director, Professor of English
• Patrick Lawler Writer-in-Residence
• Linda Pennisi Writer-in-Residence
• Dan Roche Associate Professor, Communication & Film Studies

The Writing Life

• student readings of original work
• the Creative Writing Student Club
• productions and staged readings of student-authored plays and scripts
• readings and craft talks by visiting authors
• editorial experience with the college literary magazine, the  Salamander
• collaborations with students working in other arts-related areas, such as film, drama, photography, and art

What's Next for Creative Writing Students?

Creative Writing Program students have been accepted into MFA and other graduate programs at top universities around the country. And they publish their work in nationally-distributed magazines, win awards, have their plays produced, and publish books. Graduates in Creative Writing have found employment in various careers, including:

• Management • Marketing • Law • Journalism • Film • Education • Library Science • Public Relations • Publishing • Medicine

"My creative writing courses taught me how to use the power of language and images to impress and convince. As Hemingway said, 'You don't need big words to create big emotions.'"

Newhouse Writing Awards

Congratulations to the 2021 recipients of the Newhouse Writing Awards. Please click on any title to read more about the judges and their comments on the winner's work. 

The Nine Mile Prize in Poetry

The Nine Mile Prize in Poetry recognizes an outstanding poem submitted by a Le Moyne College full-time undergraduate in the creative writing program. There are no criteria for “outstanding,” only an awareness of the craft and art of poetry, and faithfulness to the materials of the poem. The winner will be selected by Nine Mile magazine editors Robert Herz and Stephen Kuusisto, receive a $50 cash prize, and publication in a forthcoming issue of Nine Mile ( https://www.ninemile.org /). All submissions to the Newhouse Poetry Award by creative writing concentrators and minors are eligible for the Nine Mile Prize in Poetry.

The 2021 Nine Mile Prize in Poetry has been awarded to Nikita Sharkey for “My Father Smiles Like Fire and I Live in the Flicker.” Robert Herz and Stephen Kuusisto selected a runner-up, McKenna Dicamillo, whose poem “rock beats icarus” will also appear in Nine Mile.

How do I join the Creative Writing Program?

Students join the program by declaring a creative writing concentration (if an English major) or a creative writing minor (if a major in another department). In either case, the requirements are the same: 4 writing workshops and 1 literature course.

Mission Statement

The Creative Writing Program enables English majors with a concentration in Creative Writing and Creative Writing minors to become writers and critics of poetry, fiction, plays, nonfiction, and scripts through participation in writing workshops and individual tutorial sessions with instructors, and through the study of contemporary writing and traditional literature.

Learning Goals

Students who take the Creative Writing concentration should be able to:

• create and revise successive drafts of their own imaginative writing (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, plays, film scripts and/or new or hybrid forms such as the prose poem)
• employ techniques and strategies appropriate to imaginative writing in one or more genres (or a hybrid genre). For example a student poet might demonstrate facility with metaphors, sound patterns, enjambment; a fiction writer might do so with dialogue, plot development, flashback.
• express reasonable, balanced opinions of peer writing during class workshop discussion, along with constructive suggestions for revision
• complete and organize a manuscript of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, tv or film scripts, plays, or works in new or hybrid genres (such as the prose poem). This manuscript can consist of a single work or multiple works that demonstrate professional presentation of the creative writing, appropriate to the genre(s) represented. As a whole the manuscript should be correctly formatted and free of errors – of a quality that could be submitted to a professional journal for publication. Manuscript length will vary according to genre and instructors’ individual requirements.

Web Links to National Creative Writing Organizations

• http://awpwriter.org/ The mission of Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) is to foster literary talent & achievement, to advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, & to serve the makers, teachers, students, & readers of contemporary writing.
• http://www.pw.org/ Poets & Writers, Inc. is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation's largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. The national office is located in New York City.
• http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/ The Poetry Society of America, the nation's oldest poetry organization, was founded in 1910. Its mission is to build a larger and more diverse audience for poetry, to encourage a deeper appreciation of the vitality and breadth of poetry in the cultural conversation, to support poets through an array of programs and awards, and to place poetry at the crossroads of American life.
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Today's hours, artist warren kimble ’57 inspires joy.

by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, Strategic Initiatives Advisor

Warren Kimble 's artistic impact extends across the globe, with his paintings sought after by collectors internationally. His works have graced prestigious galleries in New York and Boston, as well as being featured in solo exhibitions at Syracuse University and a notable three-year showcase at Shelburne Museum in Vermont.

Residing and creating in the picturesque town of Brandon, located in western Vermont, Warren and his wife and business partner, Lorraine, also have a commitment to civic engagement that has been unwavering, spearheading initiatives such as the establishment of an artist's guild, creative spaces and galleries, and an art-led revitalization of downtown Brandon in collaboration with fellow artists and community leaders.

Trained initially as a fine artist at Syracuse University, Kimble's early work reflected a more traditional approach to painting and drawing. His time at Syracuse was a pivotal period in his artistic journey. As he likes to say, he was plucked by the university from his working-class hometown in New Jersey in 1953 without having taken an entrance exam. For that, he is most grateful. “They took a chance,” he says. Warren is a first gen college graduate.

As a student he was exposed to artistic styles and techniques that would later shape his distinctive imagery. Under the guidance of accomplished faculty members, Kimble honed his skills and experimented with different mediums, laying the foundation for his successful career as a folk artist. After graduation in 1957, he spent 21 years as an art teacher, moving to Vermont around 1970 to teach at Castleton State College, before becoming “discovered” on the rural Vermont scene around the age of 50. At that point he was exhibiting his work at local arts and crafts shows and festivals and had developed his iconic motif with its distinct and recognizable style.

During that time, he became widely known for incorporating elements of folk art and Americana into his work, drawing inspiration from his rural surroundings in Vermont. He developed his signature aesthetic that blends folk art motifs with nostalgic Americana themes, often featuring rural landscapes, farm animals, and everyday objects. His work expanded to include furniture and home décor, often made from found objects. His highly distinctive style became synonymous with Kimble’s name and garnered widespread acclaim and recognition.

Kimble also achieved celebrity status as one the most prolific art entrepreneurs of the past four decades. He collaborated with more than 50 companies to license his work, commercializing into a variety of mediums and formats, including prints, calendars, ceramics, wallpaper, and home goods. Despite his success, Kimble remained humble and grounded in his community, and his work remained rooted in his deep appreciation for traditional American culture and a sense of warmth and nostalgia. His prolific work, timeless pieces and iconic images over that era ensured his place as one of the most celebrated folk artists of his generation.

While Kimble is known as a contemporary folk artist, over the past two decades he branched out into other styles, most notably a mixed-media series titled “Widows of War,” which debuted at Vermont’s Shelburne Museum. While listening to news about the Iraq war, Kimble was looking at a dressmaker’s mannequin he had recently purchased at an antique shop and had placed in front of a window in his room at the Vermont studio center. That form seemed to represent “the mothers, wives, daughters who have lost a loved one and are waiting by their windows wondering what to do,” he says.

From that followed a series of bright, vibrant abstract paintings called, “Let the Sun Shine” reflecting his optimism and hope. He remains a prolific artist working in his Brandon studios and experimenting in many mediums, including wood, sculptural objects, found objects and large canvas, using unusual techniques and colors. His most recent work includes experimenting with broom painting, manipulating, and moving paint using just one common kitchen item -- a long-handled broom -- and playing with line, shape, movement, space, and composition. His recent works are dynamic and abstract imagery that blend rich, often earthy tones, with sometimes shimmering effects.

At 89, he is still a prolific artist and approaches each day with joyful creativity and humility, spreading his enthusiasm to the rest of Brandon’s art community and throughout the State of Vermont.

His studios and galleries are full of Syracuse University memorabilia that capture his memories as a proud SU student and alum. As a student, he was a cheerleader, sports enthusiast, and student leader, serving in many roles in student organizations and activities. He became the head football cheerleader for the university, back when Jim Brown, one of the greatest running backs of all time, commanded the field. He remains one of Syracuse’s most enthusiast alumni. He proudly flies an Otto flag in front of his Main Street home in Brandon, cheerfully noting that everyone knows where he lives, not just because of his art gallery next door, but because of his visible Orange pride. Of his many accomplishments, he is especially proud of his prestigious George Arents Pioneer Medal presented by Syracuse University in 2002 – the highest honor bestowed by the university on a distinguished graduate.

Despite his public notoriety, Kimble remains incredibly humble and committed to his craft and his community. In fact, he could be considered Brandon’s head cheerleader. He is proud of The Brandon Artists Guild, a vibrant group of Vermont artists and artisans, co-founded 25 years ago by Kimble and local arts and community leaders. He loves to retell the story of how the group went viral in 2003 with the advent of “The Really Really Pig Show.” Forty life-sized fiberglass pigs were designed and decorated by Guild artists, town members and students from area schools. Kimble’s enthusiasm – and that of Guild members -- was contagious and soon the entire community became involved. The pigs were unveiled at Brandon’s traditional Memorial Day parade and displayed all summer throughout the village. They were then auctioned off to benefit the arts in Brandon. The first event of its kind in Vermont, the Pig Show attracted thousands of visitors and helped establish Brandon as an exciting and quirky arts destination. Funds raised from the project enabled the Guild to purchase and renovate a historic downtown building as a gallery that has become a well-known stop for Vermont art enthusiasts.

The group leveraged the success of the Pig Show to create a popular series of other community-wide art projects based on birdhouses, then rocking chairs, artist palettes, cats, and dogs, and finally, clocks, with “Art Makes Brandon Tick.” This year, in celebration of the Guild’s 25th anniversary, Kimble is embarking on a “piglet” project – engaging 70 volunteer artists to decorate smaller scale “piglet” wood boards, which will be on display through Brandon this summer. He is enthusiastically leading the piglet charge, cheerfully noting that by now the original pigs have had babies and celebrating a next generation of creative play and adventure. He recently organized a 25th anniversary celebration for the Guild to celebrate how it has grown into a vibrant community of artists and artisans, united by a shared passion for creativity and collaboration.

Through his timeless and iconic work, and his sense of joy, he inspires all to pause, reflect, and rediscover the beauty that surrounds us – in everyday moments and objects, in familiar landscapes, and in the shared experiences that bind people together as community. He looks forward to returning to Syracuse on April 10, 2024 to share his remarkable journey, which reminds us of the profound impact that one artist can have on the world. Reflecting on his perspective, experiences, and artistic growth, he is keener than ever to share his remarkable folk wisdom.

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The Philosophy Department Welcomes Four Professors in the Fall, while Another Senior Search Continues

The Department of Philosophy is pleased to announce that four new professors have decided either to join our faculty this fall or visit during the year.  These announcements (which are subject to Board approval) come as the department continues to move forward with another senior search. The announcements follow a highly successful recruitment cycle last year, which—according to Brian Leiter—already “ stood a good chance of putting the department back in the U.S. top 50. ” Following some of this news, Leiter has indicated that " Illinois/Urbana will probably re-enter the top 50. "

Our first new colleague will be Professor Luvell Anderson . Currently a professor at Syracuse University, Professor Anderson works in philosophy of language, African American philosophy, aesthetics, humor, and social ontology. Professor Anderson is one of the most talented philosophers of his generation, and he will join our faculty as a Full Professor of Philosophy. He is co-editor of the Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Race (Routledge) and the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Applied Philosophy of Language (Oxford University Press). He has also published articles on the semantics of racial slurs and on racist humor. He is currently writing two books: The Ethics of Racial Humor (Oxford University Press), which examines when humor is racist and how one should navigate racial satire, and The Philosophy of Race and Racism (Routledge), which is an introduction to basic issues in the philosophy of race

Our second new colleague is Professor Verena Erlenbusch-Anderson . Currently a professor at Syracuse University, Professor Erlenbusch-Anderson is a critical theorist whose work is situated at the intersection of political theory, philosophy (with an emphasis on political philosophy and contemporary European philosophy), history, and conflict/terrorism studies. She is one of the most talented political theorists of her generation, and she will hold a joint appointment with the Department of Political Science. Her primary research focus is the development of a philosophically rigorous and empirically grounded account of terrorism useful for contemporary analysis. She is working on a book titled Traitors to Forgetting: A Genealogy of White Supremacist Terrorism in the United States, which combines the tools of critical race scholarship and philosophical genealogy to tell a new story of American terrorism. Her first book was Genealogies of Terrorism: Revolution, State Violence, Empire (Columbia University Press, 2018).

Our third new colleague, Bill Watson, will hold a primary appointment in the College of Law and will be a faculty affiliate in our department.   Watson researches questions at the intersection of public law and philosophy, with an emphasis on precedential reasoning, statutory interpretation, and constitutional interpretation. He is currently working on projects that address the import of legal positivism for debates over legal interpretation; the independence of textualism in statutory interpretation from originalism in constitutional interpretation; and the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent treatment of precedent. His work appears or is forthcoming in both law reviews and peer-reviewed journals.

Fourth, the department is very pleased to welcome Professor Jordan Pascoe as a George A. Miller Visiting Professor through the Center for Advanced Studies for the 2024-2025 academic year. George A. Miller Visiting Professors and Scholars are people of outstanding achievement in academic or public life who join our campus to participate in scholarly, professional, or creative programs. Pascoe works in moral, social, and political philosophy, applied ethics and bioethics, feminist epistemology, Kantian philosophy, and philosophy of race. She will be collaborating with faculty members—including Professors Helga Varden, Alison Duncan Kerr, and Jochen Bojanowski—to develop three workshops over the course of the year, one on the philosophy of aesthetics, another on the philosophy of gender/sex/love, and a third on the philosophy of race. Her visit will culminate in a conference on Kantian ethics in application to these and related topics to be published in the Canadian Journal of Philosophy. Professor Pascoe coordinates the Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love with Andrea Warmack and was the founding director of the Women and Gender Resource Center at Manhattan College. We are very excited to have her participating in a series of events that should raise the discourse around philosophy and these topics throughout the campus. Special thanks to Professor Varden for leading the nomination process to obtain this distinguished visit.

All of this news follows the department’s hiring of Alison Duncan Kerr , Kevin Scharp , and John Schwenkler in the Fall of 2023—thus generating one of the most exciting recent hiring streaks for a philosophy department. We hope to complete our remaining senior hiring process before the start of the term.