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Fresno State Alumni

Creative Writing Alumni Chapter

Founded in 2016, the Creative Writing Alumni Chapter creates on-ground and online gathering spaces for alumni and community friends of the university’s Creative Writing Program. Our all-volunteer organizing committee, as part of the Alumni Association, aims to serve multiple generations of Fresno writers near and far, including Fresno State alumni with MFA, MA, and BA degrees in creative writing and English.

All Bulldog alumni and community friends are welcome to join us! Reach out to us to discover ways to volunteer and stay connected. Don't forget to check us out on social media to stay up-to-date with our latest events and activities.

Send us a message!

2021-2022 

Jefferson Beavers | President
Ronald Dzerigian | Vice President
Kamilah Okafor | Secretary
Marisa Mata | Treasurer
Courtney Hughes | Campus Liaison
Mialise Carney | Student Representative
Ethan Chatagnier | Board Member
Desiree Garza | Board Member
Gabriel Ibarra | Board Member
Angela Chaidez Vincent | Board Member

The Fresno 15: Creative Writing Marathon

Each Fall, our online publishing and crowdfunding project features award-winning Fresno writers in a creative writing challenge and fundraiser to benefit the chapter’s Larry Levis Memorial Scholarship in Creative Writing, which the chapter aims to grow to endowment level by 2024. Volunteer authors run a “literary marathon,” writing 15 pieces in 15 days, while the rest of us “sponsor” and encourage them as they write. 

Check out our Project Webpage

 

Community Readings

The chapter hosts literary readings throughout the year, some with open-call sign ups for participants. These readings feature alumni, future alumni, and community friends, all who have deep interest in the Fresno writing community. The schedule typically includes the Future Alumni Showcase (December), a New Year's gathering (January), and a summer series with alumni authors who've published new books (June/July/August).

See Upcoming Chapter Events

Through its efforts, the Creative Writing Alumni Chapter highlights Fresno State alumni authors who've published new books, connecting them directly with audiences eager to engage with their writing and support their creative work. Students and community members also participate, building connections across literary generations. Proceeds from chapter events are often split between the chapter and the featured authors, with the chapter's portion going directly to our student scholarship.

Make a Gift Today!

Larry Levis Memorial Scholarship in Creative Writing

Since its founding, the Creative Writing Alumni Chapter set a goal of establishing a student scholarship. With initial gifts from the university's Master of Fine Arts program and MFA alumna Linnea Alexander, the chapter has raised funds toward the Larry Levis Memorial Scholarship in Creative Writing. The chapter signed a gift agreement with the Alumni Association in 2019, with the goal to endow the scholarship fund by 2024. The first Larry Levis scholarship was awarded in fall 2021 to third-year MFA poetry student Delaney R. Whitebird Olmo.

Support Our Student Scholarships Today!