AWARDS
Boulevard Poetry Contest for Emerging Poets, winner 2017
Best American Essays, notable essay, 2015
Discovery/Boston Review, semifinalist, 2015
Lauren K. Alleyne Difficult Fruit Prize for “Won’t You Be My Valentine,” IthacaLit, winner, 2015
Orlando Award from A Room of Her Own Foundation, finalist, 2015
StoryQuarterly First Annual Essay Contest for “Smudge,” winner, 2014
VanderMey Nonfiction Prize for “Phantom Language,” Ruminate Magazine, finalist, 2014
Ninth Letter Literary Award for “Smudge,” Ninth Letter, finalist, 2014
Diana Woods Memorial Creative Non-fiction Award for “Phantom Language,” finalist, 2014
Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prize for “Luna Moth,” “A Fine Romance,” and “Another Fine Romance,” 2014
Madison Caucus for Gender Equality, professional development grant for work on “Smudge,” James Madison University, 2013
Merída Prize for “the archive is always in present tense,” U.S. Poets in Mexico, finalist, 2013
Split This Rock Poetry of Provocation and Witness Award for “Lát-Kat,” second prize, 2012
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, fellowship, 2011
Flight School, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, fellowship, 2011
Arts and Letters/Rumi Prize for Poetry, finalist, 2009
Writers in the Heartland, residency, October 2009
Bertotl Clever Writing Prize, Indiana University, 2008
Project on African Expressive Traditions, research and travel grant, 2008
Atlanta Review International Publication Prize for “The Altar,” Atlanta Review, 2008
Won-Joon Yon Scholarship for Racial Tolerance, 2008
The Poetry Center of Chicago’s Annual Juried Reading Award, finalist, 2008
Best American Essays, notable essay, 2015
Discovery/Boston Review, semifinalist, 2015
Lauren K. Alleyne Difficult Fruit Prize for “Won’t You Be My Valentine,” IthacaLit, winner, 2015
Orlando Award from A Room of Her Own Foundation, finalist, 2015
StoryQuarterly First Annual Essay Contest for “Smudge,” winner, 2014
VanderMey Nonfiction Prize for “Phantom Language,” Ruminate Magazine, finalist, 2014
Ninth Letter Literary Award for “Smudge,” Ninth Letter, finalist, 2014
Diana Woods Memorial Creative Non-fiction Award for “Phantom Language,” finalist, 2014
Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prize for “Luna Moth,” “A Fine Romance,” and “Another Fine Romance,” 2014
Madison Caucus for Gender Equality, professional development grant for work on “Smudge,” James Madison University, 2013
Merída Prize for “the archive is always in present tense,” U.S. Poets in Mexico, finalist, 2013
Split This Rock Poetry of Provocation and Witness Award for “Lát-Kat,” second prize, 2012
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, fellowship, 2011
Flight School, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, fellowship, 2011
Arts and Letters/Rumi Prize for Poetry, finalist, 2009
Writers in the Heartland, residency, October 2009
Bertotl Clever Writing Prize, Indiana University, 2008
Project on African Expressive Traditions, research and travel grant, 2008
Atlanta Review International Publication Prize for “The Altar,” Atlanta Review, 2008
Won-Joon Yon Scholarship for Racial Tolerance, 2008
The Poetry Center of Chicago’s Annual Juried Reading Award, finalist, 2008
