- Tyler Odeneal’s, “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” was named a finalist for the Missouri Review’s 2026 Perkoff Prize.A story by Tyler Odeneal (PhD in Progress), "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" was named a finalist for the Missouri Review's 2026 Perkoff Prize, which honors "writers of the best story, set of poems, and essay that engage in evocative ways with health, wellness, and medicine."
- Sophie Nunberg Wins Coveted AWP Intro Journals Project AwardSophie Nunberg (PhD in progress) has won one of the coveted AWP Intro Journals Project Awards for her creative nonfiction piece, “This is Just to Say I Have Recommended the Last Book You Were Saving.” It will appear in an upcoming issue of Mid-American Review. From AWP’s website: “The AWP Intro Journals Project is a literary competition for the …
- Frederick Smock Poetry Prize Awarded to Ellen ElderThe inaugural Frederick Smock Poetry Prize was awarded to Ellen Elder (PhD, 2009) for her poetry collection, We Left a Window Open to the Sea, selected by Kentucky Poet Laureate Emeritus Richard Taylor. The book will come out in fall 2026.
- Professor’s book debuts on New York Times bestseller listThe Voice in My Head is God (Black Privilege/Penguin Random House), a debut memoir from Grammy-winning artist 2 Chainz cowritten with UWM professor and poet Derrick Harriell, debuted at number 10 on the Times' Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction Bestseller list in March 2026.
- Creative Writing Student Wins AwardKim Rouse, who is pursuing an MA in English with a creative writing focus, recently won a Lillian Boese Award for Writing Excellence from the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books. Congratuations, Kim!