EDUCATION
Center for Writers, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Ph.D. in English Literature and Creative Writing
Dissertation: Vanishing Point, poems with critical introduction
Areas of Concentration: Poetry Writing, 16th and 17th Century English Poetry, 20th Century American Poetry, Rhetoric and Composition
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
M.F.A. in Poetry Writing
Thesis: Beginning the Name That Was Mine, poems
Areas of Concentration: 20th Century American Poetry
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
B.A. in English with Honors
Areas of Concentration: Classical Literature, Film and Film Theory, Poetry Writing
CURRENT POSITIONS
- Kranzberg Endowed Visiting Professor in Poetry, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Spring 2023.
- Tulsa Artist Fellow in Poetry and Translation, 2019-present.
- Founding Director, Fork Tine Press, 2022-present.
- Founding Director, Tulsa Glitterary Conference and Tulsa Glitterary Reading Series, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 2020-present.
PAST ACADEMIC POSITIONS AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Wisconsin’s Own Library Poet-in-Residence, Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin, August-December 2021.
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
Prose Poetry and Invented Forms
Assistant Professor of English, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico, August 2015-December 2018
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
College Composition
College Composition and Research (taught both live and online)
Introduction to Creative Writing (taught hybrid live/online)
Cinema Studies
Poetry Writing
Trends in Creative Writing—Prose Poetry/Flash Fiction/Flash Non-Fiction
Global Diversity and Cultural Studies—East Asian Film
Creative Non-Fiction
Directed Study: Modern and Contemporary American Poetry and Poetics (taught twice)
Topics in English—Japanese Cinema
Graduate Courses Taught:
Pedagogy of College Writing (taught hybrid live/online)
Graduate Survey of Anglo-American Literature (taught hybrid live/online)
Inventing Realities, Fabricating Truths (graduate creative writing workshop)
Graduate Directed Study: Poetic Form and Poetic Theory
Assistant Professor of English and Director of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Program and the Writing Center, St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin, 2003-2006
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
College Writing (developmental composition)
Introduction to Literature (writing-intensive first-year course)
Survey of British Literature I (Beginnings to Milton)
Milton
Special Topics: The Films of Alfred Hitchcock
Special Topics: 20th Century LGBQT Literature and Film
Assistant Teaching Professor of English and Director of the Freshman Writing Program, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, 2000-2003
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
Freshman Seminar: Creation Myths (writing-intensive first-year course)
Freshman Seminar: Monster Narratives in Literature and Film (writing-intensive first-year course)
Composition I (taught classroom-based, hybrid, and online)
Composition II
Survey of World Literature I (Gilgamesh to Beowulf)
Survey of British Literature I (Beginnings to Milton)
Introduction to Poetry
Introductory Poetry Workshop
Intermediate Poetry Workshop
Greek Drama (taught once live and once online)
Advanced Composition
The Bible as Literature
Graduate Courses Taught:
The English Lyric Poem
Teaching College Composition
Adjunct Assistant Professor of English, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee, 1999-2000
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
Composition I
Composition II
Introduction to Western Humanities
Graduate Instructor, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 1992-1996
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
Composition I
Composition II
Introduction to Poetry
Survey of World Literature I (Beginnings to Shakespeare)—teaching assistant
Intermediate Poetry Writing
Graduate Instructor, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1990-1992
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
Introduction to Poetry Writing
PUBLICATIONS
Creative Work
Books
Instructions for Seeing a Ghost (University of North Texas Press, February 2020), poems. Winner of the 2019 Vassar Miller Prize in Poetry.
Chapbooks/Pamphlets
Proviso, collaboration with painter Kristen Tomecek, Paper Machine Press, 2021, poems with paintings.
Tell Me Exactly What You Saw and What You Think It Means, SCE Press, 2021, poems.
Out of the Frame, Walls Divide Press, November 2019, poems.
Dead Letter Office at North Atlantic Station, Seven Kitchens Press, August 2017, poems.
Selected Individual Publications
“Winter Postcard,” translation of short story by Adriana Candia, Latin American Literature Today, summer 2022.
“Yod,” EcoTheo Review, summer 2021.
“Hermeneutics,” translation of poem by Rodrigo Figueroa, Red Rock Review, spring 2021.
“Prayer for Plant Rot,” Tulsa Review, spring 2021.
“Monologue as Hypothermia Sets In” and “My Husband and I Discuss How to Break Out of This Rut,” El Portal, December 2020.
“(Anti-) Olympus,” “Succubus,” “Aomame and Tengo,” and “[How can one release such emptiness from a finite body],” translations of poems by Rodrigo Figueroa, Latin American Literature Today, vol. 1, no. 16, November 2020.
“Poem after John Wolfe’s ‘Residence, Anadarko Okla.’,” Art Focus Oklahoma 35.3 (Summer 2020), pp.24-25.
“Aleph,” “Gimmel,” “Hēt,” and “Hē,” Lighthouse Literary Journal, July 2019.
“Cri de Coeur in Red,” “Post-Mortem,” “Leaving North Winsloe, August 2015,” and “Tet,” Four Way Review, April 2019.
“Essay on Powerlessness” and “Unfinished Stained Glass Window,” The Boiler: A Journal of New Literature, October 2018.
“Cri de Coeur in White,” Glass: A Journal of Poetry, October 2018.
“The Subjunctive Mood,” Tar River Poetry, Fall 2018.
“Doppelgängers,” “Providence,” and “Three Fragments from East Webster Place,” Broadkill Review, July 2018.
“Question,” Third Wednesday, June 2018.
“Letter to John Ashbery,” “Dalet,” and “Zayin,” Nimrod International Journal, vol. 61, no. 2 (Spring/Summer 2018): 83-86.
“Invocation,” Tupelo Quarterly 15, June 2018.
“Trying to Name What Doesn’t Change,” UnLost, January 2018.
“Survivor’s Guilt,” Worcester Review, vol. 38, no. 1-2 (Winter 2017): 12.
“Self-Portrait with the Death of the Firstborn,” Cold Creek Review 1.2 (June 2017).
“Ghazal to John from Exile,” Coal Hill Review, June 2017.
“Vita Poetica,” Valparaiso Poetry Review, vol. 38, May 2017.
“Postcard to John, Overlooking Barachois Beach, Late May,” Unbroken, April 2017.
“Self-Portrait with the Plague of Waters Turned to Blood,” Yellow Chair Review, November 2016.
“Still Life with the Plague of Darkness,” El Portal, November 2016.
“Late April Song” and “San Francisco, June 1999,” El Portal 74.1 (Spring 2016): 36-7.
“Two Storms,” A Short Ride: Remembering Barry Hannah. Oxford, MS: VOX Press, 2012. 44-45.
“After Chagall,” Yalobusha Review 21 (2002).
“Rooms,” James White Review 13.1 (1996).
“I Want to Talk about You,” William and Mary Review 33 (1995).
“Jackson Zoo” and “North Sea Flotsam,” Mississippi Review Online 1.2 (1995).
“A Dunking,” Cream City Review 18.2 (1994).
“Breakings” and “The Others,” Cumberland Poetry Review 11.3 (1991).
Interviews and Reviews
“An Interview with Steve Bellin-Oka,” Blue Mountain Review, spring 2021.
“An Interview with Steve Bellin-Oka,” Dante’s Old South, National Public Radio, aired April 17, 2021.
“Intensive Care by Alberto Guttiérez Plaza, translated by Arthur Dixon,” World Literature Today, spring 2021.
“An Interview with Steve Bellin-Oka,” Nimrod International Journal blog, April 2020.
“To the Limits of Sight: A Conversation with Adeeba Talukder,” Adroit Journal, August 18, 2019.
“A Conversation with Rita Dove,” Mississippi Review 22.3 (1995). Reprinted as “Tricking the Muse by Taking Out the Trash.” Conversations with Rita Dove. Ed. Earl Ingersol. Oxford, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 2003. 121-35.
Textbooks and Anthologies
Contributing editor, The Norton Mix for Composition and Literature (Norton, 2018).
Manuscripts in Progress
Shadow Generator (poems).
The Way North (translation from the Spanish of José U. Escobar’s Vereda Del Norte; novel).
MULTIMEDIA WORK
PROVISO: Family Class and Queer Immigration, multimedia installation with Kristen Tomecek, Tulsa Artists Fellowship, Cameron Studios, Tulsa, OK, forthcoming September 6-30, 2019.
“Geronimo: Two Poems,” Recall/Respond, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, June 21-October 13, 2019.
HONORS, DISTINCTIONS, AND COMPETITIVE AWARDS
For Proviso
Winner, Antenna Chapbook Prize, Paper Machine Press, 2021.
For Tell Me Exactly What You Saw and What You Think It Means
Winner, Blue Mountain Review LGBQT Chapbook Contest, Southern Collective Experience Press, 2020.
For Instructions for Seeing a Ghost (previous manuscript title—Ash Sonata):
Winner, 2019 Vassar Miller Prize for Poetry, University of North Texas Press, January 2019.
Semi-Finalist, Lena-Miles Todd-Wever Poetry Prize, Pleiades Press, December 2018.
Finalist, Barry Spacks First Book Award, Gunpowder Press, September 2018.
Finalist, Autumn House First Book Prize Autumn House Press, August 2018.
Finalist, The Backwaters Prize, Backwaters Press, July 2018.
Finalist, Trio House Award for a First or Second Book of Poetry, July 2018.
Semi-Finalist, Blue Lynx Poetry Prize, Lynx House Press, November 2017.
Semi-Finalist, Moon City Press Poetry Award, Missouri State University, October 2017.
Finalist, Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award, Southern Illinois University Press, September 2017.
Finalist, Cowles Poetry Book Prize, Southeast Missouri State University Press, September 2017.
Finalist, Two Sylvias Press Poetry Prize, Two Sylvias Press, August 2017.
Finalist, Autumn House Press First Book Award, Autumn House Press, August 2017.
Finalist, 42 Miles Press Poetry Award, 42 Miles Press, June 2017.
Finalist, Washington Prize, Word Works Press, June 2017.
For Dead Letter Office at North Atlantic Station
Semi-Finalist, Tomaz Salamun Prize, Verse, August 2017.
Finalist, Center for Book Arts Poetry Chapbook Prize, May 2017.
Finalist, Glass Poetry Press Chapbook Prize, March 2017.
Finalist, Coal Hill Review Chapbook Prize, Autumn House Press, November 2016.
Finalist, Two Sylvias Press Chapbook Prize, Two Sylvias Press, August 2016.
Other Fellowships, Grants, and Awards
Writer’s Residency, Soaring Gardens Artist Community, August 2021.
Eli Cantor Poetry Fellowship, Corporation of Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY, January 2020.
Poets in the Park Fellowship, Gettysburg National Military Park, National Parks Arts Foundation, September-October 2019.
Nominee, Best of the Net, for “Tet,” Four Way Review, September 2019.
Translation Scholar, Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference, June 2019.
Tulsa Artists Fellowship, George Kaiser Family Foundation, January 2019-present.
Nominee, Best of the Net, for “Self-Portrait with the Death of the Firstborn,” Cold Creek Review, August 2017.
Poetry Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center, June 2017.
Internal Research Grant, Eastern New Mexico University, April 2017.
Poetry Fellowship, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, January 2017.
Poetry Grant, Vermont Studio Center, November/December 2016.
Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference General Contributor, August 2016.
Internal Research Grant, Eastern New Mexico University, April 2016.
Grant Writing Award, St. Norbert College, 2005.
Faculty Development Summer Research Grant, St. Norbert College, 2004.
Faculty Development Travel Grant, St. Norbert College, 2004 and 2005.
Joan Johnson Award in Poetry, University of Southern Mississippi, 1993.
Academy of American Poets Award, University of Virginia, 1990.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND PAPERS PRESENTED
“A Reading of Poems Based on Films by Alfred Hitchcock,” Popular Culture Association of the South, New Orleans, LA, October 14, 2022.
“Cinepoems and Cinepoetics,” Nimrod International Journal Conference for Readers and Writers, Tulsa, OK, November 5, 2020.
“The Ethics of Writing about Historical Trauma and Cultural Memory,” Nimrod International Journal Conference for Readers and Writers, Tulsa, OK, October 2019.
“Documentary Poetics and Cultural Memory,” New Orleans Poetry Festival, New Orleans, LA, April 2019.
“Destabilizing the Gaze: A. Van Jordan’s The Cineaste and Cinematic Spectatorship,” American Literature Association, San Francisco, May 2018.
“‘Big, Scary and Frankenstein-Looking’: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Frankenstein, and Post-Modern Adaptation,” Popular Culture Association, Indianapolis, IN, March 2018.
“‘I Can’t Wait to Get My Hands on His Orbs’: Andrew Wells and the Absent/Present Gay Male in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,” Southwest/Texas American Culture and Popular Culture Association,” Albuquerque, NM, February 2017.
“Disrupting the Rhetoric of the Image: Using Internet Memes in the Freshman Composition Classroom,” Trends in Teaching Composition Conference, Collin College, Dallas, TX, October 2015.
“The Rhetoric of Gang Violence in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,” Southwest/Texas American Culture and Popular Culture Association, Albuquerque, NM, February 2005.
“Milton, Comus, and the Castlehaven Case,” Milton Association, Pittsburgh, PA, April 2004.
“‘Anger’s My Meat’: Shakespeare’s Coriolanus and the Consumption of the Body,” Midwest Modern Language Association, Chicago, IL, November 2003.
“A Visual Rhetoric of American Gun Violence in the British Queer as Folk Series,” American Culture Association, New Orleans, LA, April 2003.
“Freshman Seminar Programs: When the Humanities Speak to Each Other,” William Watson Conference on Composition, Jackson, MS, May 2002.
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Professional Writing Consultant to healthcare practitioners and legal review boards, 2007-2015.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Tulsa, OK (2019 to present)
- Founding director, Tulsa Glitterary Conference, Tulsa, OK, 2020-present.
Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico (2015-2018)
- Graduate Coordinator, Department of Languages and Literature
St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin (2003-2006)
- Director of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum (WAC) Program and the Writing Center
University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi (2000-2003)
- Director of the Freshman Writing Program and Director of Graduate Student Instructors
ASSESSMENT AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
Led assessment of WAC program at St. Norbert College for accreditation, 2005.
Led assessment of both Freshman Writing Program and Freshman Seminar Program at the University of Mississippi, 2001-2003.
Participated in curriculum development for pilot Freshman Seminar Program, University of Mississippi, 2002.
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS FOR FACULTY AND/OR GRADUATE STUDENTS
“Understanding and Responding to Unconscious Plagiarism,” St. Norbert College, 2005.
“Sequenced Assignments and Their Role in the Development of Critical Thinking Skills,” St. Norbert College, 2005.
“Responding to Student Writing: Options for Reflective Practice,” St. Norbert College, 2004.
“Assessing Student Writing in the Accreditation Process: Quantitative and Qualitative Bias,” University of Mississippi, 2003.
“What Should Discipline-Specific Writing Courses Look Like?: Developing a Freshman Seminar Program,” University of Mississippi, 2002.
New Graduate Instructor and Adjunct Faculty Orientations, University of Mississippi, 2000-2003.
Continuing Graduate Instructor and Adjunct Faculty Teaching Workshops, University of Mississippi, 2000-2003.
EDITING EXPERIENCE
Press Editor, Fork Tine Press, 2022-present.
Series Editor, Robin Becker Chapbook Series, Seven Kitchens Press, 2021-present.
Contributing Editor, Nimrod International Journal, University of Tulsa, 2019-present.
Poetry Editor, The Bookends Review, 2018-present.
Assistant Editor, Keystone Chapbook Series, Seven Kitchens Press, 2017-2021.
Contributing Editor, Mississippi Review, 1993-1995.
DEPARTMENTAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE
Faculty Senate Representative, Department of Languages and Literature, Eastern New Mexico University, 2017-2019.
Faculty Senate Secretary, Eastern New Mexico University, 2017-2019.
Athletics Compliance Committee, Eastern New Mexico University, 2016-2019.
Member of Graduate Council, Eastern New Mexico University, 2015-2017.
Faculty Advisor, Gay/Lesbian/Straight Alliance, Eastern New Mexico University, 2016-present.
New Faculty Mentor, Department of Languages and Literature, Eastern New Mexico University, 2016-2017.
Faculty Evaluation Committee, Department of Languages and Literature, Eastern New Mexico University, 2016-present.
General Education Task Force, Eastern New Mexico University, 2016.
British Literature Search Committee, Eastern New Mexico University, 2016.
Faculty Development Committee, St. Norbert College, 2004-2005.
Faculty Advisor, Gay and Lesbian Student Organization, St. Norbert College, 2003-2005.
General Education Committee, St. Norbert College, 2003-2005 (ex oficio).
Faculty Co-Advisor, Graphos Literary Magazine, St. Norbert College, 2004-2005.
English Department Advisor, St. Norbert College, 2003-2006.
Faculty Mentor, Gay and Lesbian Student Organization, University of Mississippi, 2000-2003.
Poetry Search Committee, University of Mississippi, 2002.
Graduate Teaching Staff Oversight Committee, University of Mississippi, 2000-2003 (chair).
Milton Search Committee, University of Southern Mississippi, 1996 (graduate student member).
COMMUNITY SERVICE/OUTREACH
Organizer, LGBQT Student Organization Film Series, Eastern New Mexico University, 2017-2018.
Organizer, Department of Languages and Literature Film Series, Eastern New Mexico University, 2015-2018.
Co-coordinator, Department of Languages and Literature Reading Series, Eastern New Mexico University, 2015-2018.
“Rhetoric and Tragedy in Aristotle,” day-long workshop for Green Bay, Wisconsin high school teachers, June 2005.
Faculty Consultant, North Mississippi Writing Project, 2001-2003.
“Publishing Poems in Literary Magazines: The Process,” St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Jackson, Mississippi, April 2003.
Coordinator, Williams Corner Bookstore Reading Series, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1990-1992.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Poetry Society of America, Modern Language Association, American Literary Translators Association, Associated Writing Programs, American Literature Association, Popular Culture/American Culture Association.
LANGUAGES
Spanish (fluent), Ancient Greek, Latin, Biblical Hebrew (reading knowledge).
Steve Bellin-Oka's author website 