Laura McKee's passion for writing and poetry, which in her words was fueled in part by her instructors at UTC, has led her across the globe. And recently her ambitious pursuit of writing poetry landed her one of ten positions (out of 1,400 applicants) in the prestigious Stegner Fellowship Program at Stanford University. We caught up with Laura to ask about her selection into the program and her time living abroad.
Q. What have you been up to since graduation?
A.
After graduation in 2002, I moved to Washington, DC where I lived for two years while working on my Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Maryland, College Park. I received my Master's in 2005 and then headed to France for a year to teach conversational English to student teachers in Chateauroux, France.
I always regretted not studying abroad while in college, and this was a great opportunity to work on my French. I actually learned about the program while at UTC and decided to apply with the encouragement of Dr. Vicki Steinberg. Though Chateauroux was a bit sleepy for my taste, my French improved vastly. It's a good way to live abroad and get paid for it. I'd definitely recommend the program. Afterwards, I found myself scratching my head, not quite yet ready to return to the States. I heard through a friend about the possibility of teaching in the Netherlands, so I applied, got the job, and moved straight from France to Maastricht, Netherlands (city where the European Union was signed into formation).
Q. What do you like best about living overseas and in your job teaching English Composition and Creative Writing for the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Europe?
Two years ago, I never would have expected I would be lecturing on poetic form to soldiers--but here I am, and I love it. Most of my students are active duty service men and women stationed in the Netherlands and Germany. I've taught on NATO, US Army, and Air Force bases. I find the collision of worlds here--military culture and academia, the blunt "real world" and the "ivory tower,"-- to be both challenging and invigorating. My students are incredible individuals juggling full-time jobs, families, school and service to our country. I feel lucky to be here.
As for living abroad, besides the obvious things, like living three hours from Paris, I think I enjoy the perpetual bewilderment that's a part of living in another country. It keeps the senses alive and forces you to think about the world in more complex ways. You can't take anything for granted. Especially language, which for me is an important part of being a writer--having a heightened awareness of the absurdities of language.
Q. Tell us about the Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University. How did you hear about it? When were you informed that you were accepted?
The Stegner is a two year writing fellowship. Stanford will provide me with a salary to work full-time on a manuscript of poems. I first heard about the fellowship in grad school and found out I'd been chosen in early March. The fellowship will give me two years to devote entirely to writing. Hopefully, I'll have a book ready to publish at the end!
Q.
What literary works have inspired you in furthering your passion and love for creative writing and poetry?
Where to start? A short list of poets who have inspired me, and who I always recommend for good reading, include Anne Carson, Charles Simic, Yusef Komunyakaa, Phil Levine, John Berryman, and Elizabeth Bishop. My early loves wrote fiction. I think in particular Flannery O'Connor and Toni Morrison raised my reader's heart rate in high school and made me want to be like them.
Q. What is one of your favorite UTC memories?
I have many. But if I had to choose one, it would have to be the summer trip I took to Slovenia and Italy to attend the International PEN Writers' Conference with Dr. Rick Jackson and my fellow poetry students. It was the first time I'd really traveled. The first time I went to an art museum. It was also the first time I witnessed literature as part of a global conversation. That experience impacted my life in many different ways. I deeply cherish it.
Q. What advice can you share with current UTC students?
Seek out the faculty. Take advantage of those office hours! I think this was the one thing that made my UTC experience exceptional. The attention of terrific professors.
Q. How did UTC prepare you for life after college?
A great education. The enduring support of my teachers.
- written May 2007
- UTC English Department
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