In 2007, the Department of English received an extremely generous gift from anonymous donors to set up a Creative Writing Fund for a period of six years.  The gift allows the department to enhance its course offerings in Creative Writing, to bring an internationally renowned writer to read at the Great Writers series, to bring other distinguished writers for readings and workshops with students, to create greater opportunities for student programming and publishing in creative writing, to integrate creative writing with the study of literature, and to use creative writing as a focal point for community outreach and service learning. 

The Creative Writing Fund has made possible guest appearances by:

2013    A.S. Byatt - coming February 18

2012    Geoff Dyer

2012    Jonathan Franzen

2011    Naomi Shihab Nye

2011    Sherman Alexie

2011    Robert Hass

2010    James Salter

2010    Michael Ondaatje

2010    Carlos Fuentes

2010    Rita Dove

2010    Edmund White

2009    Philip Lopate

2009    Deborah Eisenberg

2009    Billy Collins

2009   Joan Didion

2008    Louise Gluck

2008    Sir Salman Rushdie

2007    Toni Morrison