The creative writing MFA at the University of Memphis was founded in 1989 by novelist Tom Russell, with the help of poets Bill Page, Gordon Osing and current faculty member John Bensko. It brings together nationally recognized authors and a diverse, carefully selected group of writing students in one of the most culturally rich cities in the country. Students work in small groups with faculty to s
tudy fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or a mix of all three. Most are fully funded under research or teaching assistantships. In addition to their coursework, MFA students at the U of M help run the River City Writers Series, one of the oldest and most prestigious series of its kind, and run their own reading series. They staff The Pinch, an award-winning literary journal distributed nationally twice a year. Students also have opportunities to teach creative writing locally and abroad. Graduates of the program have gone on to publish books, win awards and teach in universities around the country.
