Olive B. O'Connor Fellowship in Creative Writing (poetry)

Colgate University invites applications for the Olive B. O'Connor Fellowship in Creative Writing. This year we invite applications for a fellowship in poetry. Writers who have recently completed an MFA, MA, or PhD in creative writing, and who need a year to complete their first book, are encouraged to apply. The selected writers will spend the academic year (late August 2026 to early May 2027) at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. The fellows will teach one multigenre creative writing course each semester and will give a public reading from the work in progress. The fellowship carries a stipend of $58,800 plus travel expenses; health and life insurance are provided. Fellows will have the option to assist with the Colgate Writers Conference in early June for additional compensation. Colgate will not sponsor any visa or work authorization for this position.

Complete applications, due by January 12, 2026, consist of a cover letter; CV; three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should address the candidate's abilities as a teacher; and a maximum of 20 double-spaced pages of prose. The writing sample may be a completed work or an excerpt from something larger. Colgate strives to be a community supportive of diverse perspectives and identities. All applications should speak directly to the candidate's ability to work effectively with students across a wide range of identities and backgrounds.

Colgate is a vibrant and leading liberal arts university of 3,200 students situated in central New York State. The Colgate faculty is committed to excellence in both teaching and scholarship. Further information about the English department can be found at http : / / www.colgate.edu / academics / departments-and-programs / english.

Applicants with dual-career considerations can find postings of other employment opportunities at Colgate and other institutions of higher education in upstate New York at Upstate NY HERC Jobs.

Application Instructions

All materials, including recommendation letters, must be uploaded to Interfolio at https : / / apply.interfolio.com / 173660 by January 12, 2026.

Salary Range or Pay Grade

$58,800

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The Department of Campus Safety at Colgate University will provide upon request a copy of Colgates Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported : 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page. Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e-mail at cusafety@colgate.edu.

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Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Policy Statement

It is the policy of Colgate University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of their race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, disability, protected Veterans status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, being or having been victims of domestic violence or stalking, familial status, or any other categories covered by law. Colgate is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Candidates with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.