Creative Writing Chair

Issue

Literary Creation is flourishing at Queen’s, with an annual Writers’ Residency, numerous yearly literary events, student-run publications, and rising enrolments across all Creative Writing classes, and yet the Creative Writing program faces significant risks due to its limited faculty resources. While boasting renowned faculty members like award-winning writers Armand Ruffo, Otoniya Juliane Okot Bitek, and Helen Humphries, the program’s teaching capacity is stretched thin. Creative Writing at Queen’s needs a Director to provide stability, integrity, and credibility to the program, making visionary decisions to attract students and nurture their creative talents.

Vision

At the heart of our vision is a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of Creative Writing—a powerful agent of change capable of sparking dialogue and inspiring action. Our students are the future storytellers and changemakers that will create a better world.

We believe that by providing the necessary resources and support, Queen's University can become a vibrant hub for aspiring writers to cultivate their skills and engage with the most critical issues of our time.

By drawing on the experience and vision of an esteemed creative writer, this initiative will generate a nurturing environment where emerging writers can hone their craft, explore pressing societal issues, and develop a deep understanding of the power of literary art. 

The Opportunity 

To realize this vision, we are committed to establishing a Director of Creative Writing who will serve as the program's anchor, whose international reputation will lend credibility, whose inspiring work will attract students to the university, and whose commitment to the role of literature in the world will foster a Creative Writing Program that is unique in Canada. 

Such a position will attract literary luminaries who have garnered widespread recognition for their exceptional contributions to the literary world. These luminaries possess the ability to captivate readers with their profound storytelling and thought-provoking narratives, with works that may delve into pressing global concerns, such as climate crisis, forced migrancy, and food insecurity, offering invaluable perspectives and insights. These literary luminaries, with their global literary reputations and unwavering commitment to the political value of literature, become ideal candidates to lead the program towards a transformative future. By drawing upon their extensive connections and experiences, they can inspire and shape the next generation of creative writers within the program.

Make an Impact

Supporting a Chair in Creative Writing offers donors a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of literature and empower the next generation of storytellers. Their contributions will help create a nurturing environment where emerging writers can thrive, explore pressing societal issues, and shape the literary landscape. 

Together, let us invest in the development of creative writing at Queen's University and inspire writers to use their voices in the service of change.

Donate Today

Contact KP Anand, Executive Director of Development, to explore how you can contribute to a Chair in Creative Writing and discuss the various options available for making a meaningful difference through your donation. To give more generally to Creative Writing, donate directly to our Department of English Trust Fund.

Contact KP Anand

Donate directly to the Department of English Trust Fund

Community and Wellness

Nurturing and contributing to the sustainability of the Creative Writing community and program.

• The introspection, self-awareness, and creative engagement nurtured within Creative Writing courses at Queen’s constitute vital skills in the development of student resilience and are integral components in a broader University commitment to student wellness.
• Not only do students develop emotional literacy within Creative Writing workshops, but they also cultivate senses of community by sharing their work and engaging with the work of others. 
• Such opportunities in Creative Writing classes are complemented by other initiatives within the English Department like our recent launching of the first-year course, ENGL 116: Literature and Mental Health, taught by clinical psychotherapist and literary theorist Dr. Angela Facundo.

More about Community and Wellness