Allison Wilkins, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor
English Department
English Club
Sigma Tau Delta
Lynchburg College
As a little girl, I used to force my younger brother and cousin to play school with me. Sometimes that involved duct tape. In high school, I worked for a vet. When I began my undergraduate studies, I chose biology because I wanted to teach orcas at SeaWorld. Laugh all you like, I had always felt a particular pull to the sciences. Then, I took an Intro to Poetry creative writing class at UNCW. It changed my life. Yes, including that clichéd moment full of light and brightness. By the end of my sophomore year, I was a creative writing major with emphasis in English and women's studies. Part of my initial fear of the humanities was entwined in my family's want that I do well in the world. It can be difficult to quantify humanities. But I eventually won them over, and proved that a degree in the humanities can take you just as far, if not further, in life than any other "more practical" degree.
I am a writer who chooses to teach because I love what I do. But I have also worked as a copywriter for a large travel corporation (which enabled me to take many exciting tours while getting paid), and as an editing and marketing intern for a small press (which helped me see the behind the scenes in the book publishing world).
Experience/Background
Prior to Lynchburg College, I taught at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (2003-06) and Miller Motte Technical College (2007-08). While earning my M.F.A., I lived briefly in Torino, Italy, where I studied Italian at the Università di Torino. Also, I have visited Sweden, France, England, Greece, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Education
M.F.A. - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.F.A. - University of North Carolina, Wilmington (minors: women's studies and English)
Professional/Research Interests
Poetry, Italian translation, translation in general, religion, memoir, short fiction, writing that blends genres, Sylvia Plath, women's literature, food politics, books about/with dogs
Recent Publications
My poetry has been published in several literary magazines and online journals including Tiger's Eye, Atlantis, The Bicycle Review, Broken Bridge Review, Peaks and Valleys: A Southern Journal.
I also have poems in the anthology Meanderings: A Collection of Poetic Verse (May 2009).
Information on Courses Taught
World Literature, Composition (LCSR), Intro to Creative Writing, Expository Writing, Vietnamese Poetry in Translation Poetry Workshop, Honors Composition
Professional Associations
Associated Writing Programs
Modern Language Association
Teachers & Writers Collaborative
ASLE
Personal Information
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy writing, reading, yoga, running, long walks with my two dogs (a Chihuahua, Corduroy; and a Boston Terrier, Monkey), baking, nature, traveling, watching soccer and football, and organic gardening.
Contact
Writing questions? Life-changing academic major decisions? Want an English internship? Feel free to stop by or send an e-mail.
wilkins.a@lynchburg.edu or 434/544-8820