Core Faculty
K. Silem Mohammad
Professor of Creative Writing
PhD, English Literature, Stanford University, 1998; BA, Literature, UC Santa Cruz, 1991; BA, Classical Studies, UC Santa Cruz, 1991
K. Silem Mohammad specializes in poetry, poetics, and non-fiction. He received BAs in Literature and Classical Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1991 and a PhD in English Literature from Stanford University in 1998. He is the author of several books of poetry, including Deer Head Nation (2003), A Thousand Devils (2004), Breathalyzer (2008), and The Front (2009). His work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Poetry,The Nation,Fence, and Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology.
Office: Art Building 110
Phone: 541.552.6636
E-Mail: mohammak@sou.edu
Craig Wright
Professor of Creative Writing
MFA, English/Creative Writing, University of South Carolina, 1994; BA English/Literature, University of South Carolina, 1989
Vincent Craig Wright teaches classes like Intro to Creative Writing, Fiction, Short Story Writing, and Songwriting. Craig earned his BA and MFA at the University of South Carolina, and is a Professor in his 24th year teaching at SOU. He is the author of a book of stories, Redemption Center (2006). His fiction has appeared in BlazeVox, Fourteen Hills, and The Harvard Advocate and his songs have appeared on Sons of Anarchy, Lucifer, and Sasquatch: Mountain Man and on movies and shows in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Singapore, Brazil, Sweden, and elsewhere. Craig’s band has headlined the Oregon Country Fair and performed in Canada, Hawaii, and The Dominican Republic.
Office: Art Building 108
Phone: 541.552.6641
E-Mail: cwright@sou.edu
Affiliated Faculty
Robert Arellano
EMDA Professor
MFA, Brown University, 1994; BA, Brown University, 1991
Professor Arellano teaches courses in Design, Production, and Writing. A founding director of the EMDA program, Professor Arellano is also a musician and author. His literary production includes pioneering work in electronic publishing, graphic-novel editions, and five other novels.
Office: Art Building 111
Phone: 541.552.8146
E-Mail: arellanor@sou.edu
Staff
David Bithell
Professor, Program Chair
PhD, University of California, Berkeley; BA, University of California, San Diego
Professor Bithell teaches courses in interdisciplinary arts and technology, including digital audio and music composition, robotic art, and programming for artists. As an interdisciplinary composer, artist, and performer exploring the connections between visual art, music, theater, and performance, Bithell utilizes new technologies and real-time interactive environments to bring the precision and structure of contemporary music and audio practices together with an understanding of performance, narrative, and humor drawn from recent theater, live cinema, and performance art. His works have been presented at major venues in the United States, Europe, and Asia and been supported by grants and commissions from Meet the Composer Commissioning Music / USA, the American Composerʼs Forum, the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology, and the President’s Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Fund at SOU.
Office: Art Building 109
Phone: 541.552.7033
E-Mail: bithelld@sou.edu
Karen Bolda
Student Success Coordinator
MA, Psychology, San Diego State University; BS, Psychology, University of Illinois
As the Student Success Coordinator for the Oregon Center for the Arts, Karen assists students with their transition to the university, advises on the general education courses needed, aligns student’s career goals with their academic majors, and helps create academic plans to plan for graduation. She can help navigate the general education requirements for SOU, answer general questions about the major, and guide students to resources to help them to be successful. Karen has lived in Ashland for over 20 years. She spends much of her free time with the Curtain Climbers, a local Aerial Dance Company.
Office (M,T,R, F): Art Building, 118
Office (W): Theater Building, 155 (Walk-in Wednesdays!)
Phone: 541.552.6735
E-Mail: boldak@sou.edu
David Humphrey
Director of the Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University
BME and Certificate in Flute, Florida State University; MME and Master’s in Educational Administration, Florida State University; PhD in Opera Production/Music Education, Florida State University
Dr. Humphrey has served in leadership and consulting roles at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Metropolitan Opera, National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Opera, Corcoran Museum of Art, Museum of Performance & Design, California Center for the Arts in Escondido, and Washington Bach Consort.
Office: Music Building 142
Phone: 541.552.6522
E-Mail: humphred2@sou.edu
Sage TeBeest
Creative Arts Program Assistant
BA, IT & Web Development, DeVry University
The Creative Arts Program Assistant will work closely with students, faculty, OCA Student Success Coordinator, visiting artists / scholars, campus personnel, various campus groups, prospective students, school groups, and the larger Southern Oregon community. We seek someone who can coordinate the marketing of CA programs utilizing University resources; University and OCA Newsletters, website and Social Media, as well as creatively adopt new opportunities and technologies. Creative Arts is firmly committed to providing excellent education and practical experiences, offering support to a diverse student population in Art and Art history, Emerging Media and Digital Arts (EMDA), and Creative Writing. Creative Arts works closely with the OCA Student Success Coordinator in retention and recruitment events. Sage worked for CivicPlus developing government websites, both state and local, including several in Oregon. She most recently worked as the Web Manager and Communications Coordinator for three departments within Kansas State University.
Office: Art Building, 117
Phone: 541.552.6387
E-Mail: tebeests@sou.edu
Contact Creative Writing
SOU Creative Writing Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6101
– Questions About Creative Writing? –