Erica Trabold

Erica Trabold is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Sweet Briar College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Oregon State University. Her research and teaching focus on creative nonfiction, lyric essays, and the intersection of personal narrative with broader cultural themes. Her work emphasizes empathy and self-reflection through writing.

Trabold is the author of Five Plots (Seneca Review Books, 2018), winner of the Deborah Tall Lyric Essay Book Prize and a 2019 Nebraska Book Award, and co-editor of The Lyric Essay as Resistance: Truth from the Margins (Wayne State University Press, 2023). Her essays explore themes of family, memory, and identity, appearing in journals like Passages North, Essay Daily, and Literary Hub.

Her courses include CORE 120: The Mindful Writer, ENCW 101: Intro to Literary Studio, and ENCW 307: The Lyric Essay. She actively contributes to literary communities through her work with Ghost Proposal journal and serves as a mentor in creative writing workshops.

Trabold’s awards reflect her innovative approach to the lyric essay form. Her writing often blends personal history with cultural critique, addressing topics like handedness, urban identity, and familial legacy. She lives with her family in Lynchburg, where she continues to teach, write, and engage with literary communities.