Gretchen Johnson. MFA
Associate Professor of English
Gretchen Johnson was born and raised in Minnesota. She earned her MFA 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.
Contact
Office: Maes 16
Phone: (409) 880-8576
gajohnson@lamar.edu
Courses Taught
Composition IComposition II
Honors Composition II
Honors American Literature
Ethics in Literature
Short Story
American Novel
Children’s/Adolescent Literature
Creative Nonfiction
Creative Writing (Fiction)
Professional Experience
Member, Texas Association of Creative Writing TeachersBook 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
Student committee to select the new English Department Chair, 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)