English Department

A panel of jurists selected Niu’s I Would Define the Sun, a collection of poems about resisting scarcity through language. The inaugural prize drew more than 300 submissions and honors Vanderbilt University’s strong connection to the arts. Read More

Jon Parrish Peede, BS’91, former director of the National Endowment for the Humanities, reflects on his respect for the late Vereen Bell. Read More

What’s remarkable about the M.F.A. program at Vanderbilt is that, although it’s among the best in the nation, it's not cutthroat like other highly regarded programs. In fact, Vanderbilt has adopted a model that seems the very opposite—one that fosters a tight-knit community based on feelings of cooperation and unity. Read More