Faculty Feature: Ryan Clark

New Creative Writing professor Ryan Clark poses with his books – Photo by Jaci Olson

By: Jaci Olson

Ryan Clark is one of the new Creative Writing Department professors at Waldorf University this year.

Clark is from Altus, Oklahoma, but his family moved when he was seven. He says, “Home would be mostly Texas and Oklahoma, Texoma, if you will.” Clark went to the University of Missouri for his undergraduate degree. He went to Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado for his M.F.A., he also got his Ph.D. at Illinois State.

When asked why he decided to come to Waldorf, Clark said, “I really liked that there is so much engagement. Everyone is doing stuff. I want to help students be able to make things happen. That was the fun in college, for me. I also missed snow and rabbits,” he added.

Clark said the things he likes the most about Waldorf is the sense of community. ” [I like] the smallness of it. Students and faculty know each other. The second time the president of the university saw me, he knew who I was.”

This semester Clark teaches two sections of Exploring Literature and Creative Writing. Next semester, he will teach Special Topics in Creative Writing.

Clark says, “One thing I’ve been able to do is work with the Warrior Writing Club. Others should join in. I’m also involved in the 24-hour Read-a-Thon. Also, during Banned Books Week we’ll be writing an erasure poem. I’m enjoying the ability to make creative things happen.”