Amber West

Dr. Amber West is a Lecturer in the Writing Programs at UCLA, part of the Humanities Division within UCLA College. She holds a B.A. in Literature & Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from NYU, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Connecticut. Her research interests span poetry and poetics, puppet theater, race and gender studies, performance studies, intersectionality, and service learning.

West's scholarly work appears in journals like Journal of Research on Women & Gender and Puppetry International, alongside contributions to edited volumes such as Episodes from a History of Undoing and The Routledge Companion to Puppetry & Material Performance. Her creative works include poetry collections published by Finishing Line Press and The Word Works.

She co-founded Alphabet Arts, a bi-coastal artist collective, and created/directed the Puppets & Poets festival in NYC (2011-2015). With nearly two decades of experience, she has taught writing, trained educators, and fundraised for programs in underserved communities, including roles with AmeriCorps VISTA, Brooklyn Public Library, and Girls Write Now.