Christopher Merrill

Christopher Merrill is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Iowa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He serves as the Director of the International Writing Program and is actively engaged in cultural diplomacy, having led missions to over forty countries. He holds appointments on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO and was appointed by President Obama to the National Council on the Humanities.

His research centers on Poetry, Nonfiction, Translation, Book Studies, and Digital Humanities. His creative and scholarly work explores global narratives, literary form, and cross-cultural exchange. He has published six collections of poetry, five works of nonfiction, and numerous translations and edited volumes, with his writings appearing in twenty-five languages.

Merrill has received prestigious honors, including:

• Lavan Younger Poets Award from the Academy of American Poets
• Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government
• Appointment to the National Council on the Humanities

He advises graduate students and leads international initiatives through the International Writing Program. His work is supported by institutional leadership roles and national recognition. He is involved in significant cultural and educational outreach, including the Montpellier Exchange and UNESCO collaborations.

He leads the International Writing Program, which fosters global literary connections and cross-cultural dialogue through international residencies and collaborative projects.