AWP 2009: Chicago

Murray State Hits National Scene at AWP, Feb. 11-14

Murray State University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program took its place on the national stage as a major sponsor for the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Annual Conference and Book Fair in Chicago, Feb. 11-14. The MFA program’s high-profile presence at this conference, one of the biggest and liveliest literary gatherings in North America, kept the MSU contingent busy throughout the three-day event.

At Murray State’s sponsor table, faculty and students distributed more than 400 copies of New Madrid, the MFA program's national literary journal edited by assistant director Ann Neelon. The MSU table also hosted book sales and signings by faculty with recent book releases, including director Squire Babcock, as well as Christine Hale, Karen Salyer McElmurray and Lorraine López. MFA faculty including McElmurray and López served on conference panels attended by hundreds.

A cadre of MSU undergrads also attended the conference to represent the university’s Bachelor of Arts in creative writing program, led by undergraduate creative writing coordinator Brian Barker. In all, Murray State’s representation at the conference included 12 faculty and staff, 25 graduate students, and 15 undergraduate creative writing majors.

 

MFA faculty Karen Salyer McElmurray (left) on a panel with Dorothy Allison

Program director Squire Babcock with MFA candidate Caitlin Chester

Program assistant director Ann Neelon (right) with MFA candidate Chris Cutler

 

AWP 2009 featured many of the nation’s prestigious authors, teachers, writing programs, literary centers, and small press publishers. The conference offered hundreds of presentations, readings, lectures, panel discussions and forums, plus hundreds of book signings, receptions, dances, and informal gatherings. The 2009 conference attracted more than 8,500 attendees and 500 publishers.