Awards

Positions

  • Lansing-area Poet Laureate (2019-2021)

  • Faculty Fellow, Michigan State University Center for Gender in Global Context (2018-2021)

  • Fellow, Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences (2010, 2011, 2012)

  • Fellow, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (2010)

  • Fellow, Banff Center for the Arts, Independent Artist Residency (2010)

Books

  • Oklahoma Book Award, Poetry (winner): Nothing but the blood (2019)

  • Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) Silver Medal: Nothing but the blood (2019)

  • Annual Midwest Book Award, Poetry (finalist): Nothing but the blood (2019)

  • Lascaux Poetry Prize (finalist):  Requiem, Rwanda (2017)

  • Oklahoma Book Award, Poetry (finalist): Celestial bodies (2017)

  • Overleaf International Chapbook Manuscript Competition: Celestial bodies (2015)

  • Oklahoma Book Award, Poetry: Crossing the ladder of sun (2004)

  • Hungry Mind Books of Distinction Award, Poetry: Learning to live in the world (1995)

Teaching

  • Global Curriculum Fellowship, MSU Office of International Studies in Education (2019)

  • Michigan State University Excellence in Diversity Award (2006)

  • Michigan State University Teacher-Scholar Award (2003)

  • Lilly Teaching Fellowship (1999-2000)

  • Winner, Crosswinds Poetry Contest (2020): “Twenty Years On” nominated for Pushcart Prize

  • Winner, Briar Cliff Review Poetry Prize (2015): “Midwinter, my mother” nominated for Pushcart Prize

  • Winner, ArtPrize Anthology Competition (2015): “In the vineyards of Teramo” nominated for Pushcart Prize

  • Winner, Sixfold Poetry Contest (November 2021): “Umbra and other poems”

  • Third place winner, Nimrod International—poetry (2021)

  • Finalist, Malahat Review (2020) “Umbra”

  • Winner, Tucson Festival of Books, Literary Award—poetry (2019)

  • Winner, Golden Quill Poetry Award (September, 2019): “Evensong”

  • Finalist, Dead Bison Editor’s Prize in Poetry (2016): Motherline series

  • Finalist, 49th Parallel Award for Poetry (2016): “Takotsubo”

  • First Honorable Mention, Dana Awards for Poetry (2016)

Poetry (selected)