Gretchen Johnson

Gretchen Johnson

Gretchen Johnson, M.F.A.
Associate Professor
Email: gajohnson@lamar.edu
Phone: (409)880-8576
Office: Maes 16

Gretchen Johnson was born and raised in Minnesota but now lives in Beaumont, Texas, where she works as an Associate Professor of English at Lamar University. She earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Texas State University. She is the author of four books — a collection of short stories, a collection of poetry, and two novels. Her novel, Single in Southeast Texas, won the Summerlee Book Award in 2018. Her latest novel, Young Again, was published by Golden Antelope Press in 2021. She has had stories and poems published in literary journals and has edited two anthologies of creative work.

Courses Taught

  • English Composition I, Lamar University
  • English Composition II, Lamar University
  • Honors Composition II, Lamar University
  • Sophomore American Literature, Lamar University
  • Honors Sophomore American Literature, Lamar University
  • Ethics in Literature
  • Creative Writing (Fiction), Lamar University (undergraduate and graduate level)
  • Short Story, Lamar University
  • American Novel, Lamar University
  • Children’s/Adolescent Literature, Lamar University
  • Creative Nonfiction, Lamar University (undergraduate and graduate level)
  • Composition I, Texas State University
  • Composition II, Texas State University

Professional Experience

  • Member of Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers

Service

  • Book Award Judge, Summerlee Book Prize, 2021
  • Book Award Judge, Summerlee Book Prize, 2019
  • Academic Advisor for Department, 2019-present
  • Job Search Committee Member, Lamar University English Department, 2019
  • Committee Member, Gloria Douglas’ thesis committee, 2018
  • Job Search Committee Member, Lamar University English Department, 2017
  • Committee Member on Grace Megnet’s thesis committee, 2017
  • Department Representative for Faculty Senate, 2017-present
  • Committee Member, Budget and Compensation Committee, 2017-present
  • Editor, Angelina River Press, 2017-present
  • Faculty Advisor for Pulse, 2017-2019
  • Mentor for Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities program, 2016-2017
  • Graduate Award Judge, Creative Writing Contest, Southwest Popular/American Culture Conference, 2015-present
  • Committee Member on Lynn Droddy’s graduate thesis committee, 2016
  • Committee Member of Jacqueline Benavides’ Honors Thesis, 2016
  • Writing Program Committee Member, 2016
  • Judge for Pulse student contests, 2015-present
  • Committee Member on Casey Ford’s graduate thesis committee, 2015
  • Nonfiction Editor for Amarillo Bay, 2015-present
  • Student Contest Coordinator, Texas Association of Creative Writing Teachers, 2015-present
  • Faculty Advisor, Lamar University Creative Writing Club, 2014-present
  • Active and Collaborative Engagement for Students Fellow, Lamar University, 2012
  • Graduate Thesis Editor, 2011
  • Judge for Pulse awards, Lamar University, 2011
  • Longman Award Committee, Lamar University, 2007
  • Texas Academy Mentor, Lamar University, 2007
  • Mentor to a new Teaching Assistant, Texas State University, 2005
  • Judged for the Ready Writing High School Competition, San Marcos, TX, 2005
  • Served on a student committee to select the new English Department Chair at Texas State University, 2005

Publications

Book Publications

  • Young Again, published by Golden Antelope Press, 2021 (National)
  • Single in Southeast Texas, published by Golden Antelope Press, 2017 (National)
  • Poetry from Texas College Students, published by Lamar University Literary Press, 2016 (National)
  • Stories from Texas College Students, published by Lamar University Literary Press, 2016, (National)
  • A Trip Through Downer, Minnesota, published by Lamar University Press, 2014 (National)
  • The Joy of Deception and Other Stories, published by Lamar University Press, 2012 (National)

Poetry Publications in Journals

  • “Texas Politician,” Texas Poetry Ballots, 2020 (National)
  • “East Texas Morning,” Writing Texas, 2015 (Regional)
  • “In Another Life,” Writing Texas, 2015 (Regional)
  • “Imagined Meeting,” The Blue Bear Review, 2012 (National)
  • “Only a Few,” The Blue Bear Review, 2012 (National)
  • “Worms,” The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, 2007 (National)
  • “Camera Angle,” Sprout Press, 2007 (National)
  • “Lake Ashtabula,” Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, October, 2005 (National)
  • “Waiting,” Poetry Harbor, September, 2005 (National)

Fiction Publications in Journals

  • “Beer Fest,” Writing Texas, 2019 (Regional)
  • “Premarital Counseling,” Writing Texas, 2017 (Regional)
  • “Hurricane Force,” Decomp Magazine, 2016 (National)
  • “Pulled Over,” Botticelli Magazine, 2014 (National)
  • “Negotiating the Terms,” Amarillo Bay, 2012 (Regional)
  • “Life in a Vacuum,” The Blue Bear Review, 2011 (National)

Honors

Book Award
Single in Southeast Texas won the Summerlee Book Prize, 2018