Heather McPherson

Heather McPherson is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Washington University in St. Louis, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. She specializes in teaching creative writing courses such as Modern Humor Writing, Literary Journalism, and The Craft of Literary Magazines. Her role includes advising the literary magazine The Spectacle and serving as the department’s career and alumni liaison.

Education:

• MFA, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• BA, Davidson College

Her professional background includes over a decade in New York editorial roles at outlets like Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, and Miramax Books, alongside teaching continuing education at NYU. Her teaching focuses on empowering students to leverage written communication skills beyond academia, emphasizing practical applications in careers and daily life.

Recent Highlight: A 2021 article highlighted her comedy writing class, which led to student publications in The Spectacle. While no personal scholarly articles were listed, her work bridges classroom instruction with real-world publishing experiences through hands-on projects and industry connections.

She manages administrative duties including office oversight (Duncker 215) and coordinates alumni engagement initiatives within the department.