English

The Writer-in-Residence Program brings authors of national and international standing to Mount Royal University to work with and mentor students. For the last decade the program has provided "an opportunity for authors, students and faculty to meet, exchange ideas and increase awareness of scholarly and artistic endeavors.... The goal of the program is to allow students, faculty and the greater community access to distinguished and unique voices in the Canadian literary landscape in a personal and professional way that encourages new ideas" (Cope).

Visiting writers hold office hours and meet with student writers. They also visit classes, give public readings/multi-media presentations, and host debates and discussions with other writers. The Department of English, Languages, and Cultures' Writer-in-Residence program forges links between the academic and the creative communities within Calgary and across the country. This gives our students direct contact with their role models and inspires them in all aspects of writing and the study of literature.

Writer-in-Residence 2023/24

Ifeoma Chinwuba

Ifeoma Chinwuba was a child refugee in the Nigeria-Biafra War. Three months after her mother and 8 siblings arrived in Libreville, Gabon in the late sixties, she was sent to a foster family in Ireland. Ifeoma was 8 years old. Repatriated after the war and reunited with her family, she completed her schooling. Ifeoma obtained a B.A in French from the University of Benin, Nigeria and an M.Sc. from the University of Lagos, Akoka. She joined the Nigerian Foreign Service and was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in 2014. Her books include Merchants of Flesh (ANA Prose Prize 2004) Fearless, Waiting for Maria (ANA Prose Prize 2008; longlist of Commonwealth Writers Prize 2008). African Romance (2013) and Head Boy (2019). Ifeoma Chinwuba was Writer-in-Residence, University of Alberta 2021-2022 where she edited 'The Pandemic And Me', a collection of short stories from different writers.

Past visiting writers