Tue, 13.08.2024 – 16:35 | By: David Tisdale
A faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) widely known for her award-winning work in the literary genres of fiction and poetry is the new director of the school’s prestigious Center for Writers.
Dr. Olivia Clare Friedman, associate professor in the English program at the USM School of Humanities and faculty member at the center, will officially take over the leadership this fall. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was published in The Paris Review And The Atlantic among other prominent publications, and her work has been recognized with several national awards and fellowships. She joined the university’s faculty in 2018 and was awarded its prestigious Nina Bell Suggs Endowed Professorship for Early Career Faculty.
“I am very pleased with my appointment,” said Dr. Friedman. “I was aware of the program’s outstanding reputation long before I arrived at Southern Miss.”
Dr. Friedman holds degrees in fiction and poetry; her work has been recognized with the O. Henry Prize, a Pushcart Prize, and a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award. Her poetry has been recognized with the Ruth Lilly Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation and the Olive B. O’Connor Fellowship from Colgate University. She has also received fellowships from MacDowell, Vermont Studio Center, the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, and Tin House.
She is the author of three books: the novel Here lies (Grove Atlantic), a short story collection entitled Disasters in the First World (Black Cat/Grove Atlantic) and a volume of poetry entitled The 26-hour day (New releases). A fourth book will be published in February 2025, An arm attached to a winga volume of poetry, will be published by LSU Press. Her stories have also been published in Grant, McSweeney’s quarterly, The Southern Review, ZYZZYVAand elsewhere; her poems have appeared in The Southern Review, poetryand other magazines.
Dr. Chris Winstead, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Matthew Casey, director of the School of Humanities, look forward to seeing the fruits of Dr. Friedman’s work with the center’s students and faculty.
“The Center for Writers plays a key role in our English programs and is central to our creative writing emphasis,” said Dr. Winstead. “Dr. Friedman is a well-respected author herself and will bring that expertise to the Center and to our students. I look forward to her leadership and am excited about the continued excellence of this world-class program.”
Dr. Casey described Dr. Friedman as “an established novelist and poet who has already contributed to the reputation of the prestigious Center for Writers through her writings, outreach, public readings, and teaching.” “I am confident about the coming years with her at the helm,” he said.
Southern Miss offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English with Creative Writing (Fiction or Poetry). “For Creative Writing, the Ph.D. is not offered everywhere, so that’s one of the things that makes our program unique,” said Dr. Friedman, who believes her active publications in both genres give her a unique perspective for leading the program for student fiction and poetry writers.
Her goals as director of the center include increasing its visibility nationally and organizing events for its students around publishing, artist residencies/fellowships, and conference presentations. “The focus on the creative work is obviously first and foremost, but I want our students to feel prepared in these other areas as well,” she explained.
She praised her colleagues at the center as “first-class in publishing and teaching,” while emphasizing her burning desire for her students to succeed. “We want them “You have to grow, grow, grow and honor your talent, refine your skills, look for opportunities and stay open to happiness,” Dr. Friedman said, while advising them, “The muse will come to visit, but you have to be ready.”
Keri Miller of Eustis, Florida, a doctoral student, says her writing skills have improved significantly under Dr. Friedman’s mentorship.
“She gives honest feedback but is also kind,” Miller continued. “She is generous with her guidance but also trusts her students to follow their instincts. As her work in both fiction and poetry demonstrates, Dr. Friedman is multitalented, and she will bring all of her gifts to her new position as director of the Center for Writers.”
Two faculty members at the center echo Miller’s sentiments, including Dr. Monika Gehlawat, who also serves as associate director of the School of Humanities, and Dr. Angela Ball, a veteran professor with over 40 years of service at the university.
“I look forward to working with a dynamic and experienced colleague like Olivia,” said Dr. Gehlawat. “Her national literary reputation, impeccable professionalism, and ambitious vision for the Center will help us continue to attract talented writers to the program. I have complete confidence in her competence as a director and personally admire her authentic commitment to creative writing in all its forms.”
Dr. Ball praised Dr. Friedman for her outstanding work in fiction and poetry, describing her colleague as a “virtuoso” in both literary genres and an excellent choice to lead the Center.
“Olivia is a writer and teacher with great skill and enthusiasm,” she continued.I look forward to her ideas as she takes the lead; I know she will be inspired and inspiring in her new role.”
The Center for Writers was founded in 1977 by former USM faculty member Frederick Barthelme. Learn more about the Center, its programs, and the work of its award-winning faculty..
