James Shea

James Shea serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Creative and Professional Writing Programme at Hong Kong Baptist University's Department of Humanities and Creative Writing, with additional duties as Acting Director of the International Writers’ Workshop. His academic journey includes prior appointments at Nebraska Wesleyan University, University of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, and DePaul University.

He holds an MFA from the University of Iowa and a BA summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago. His creative work spans poetry collections, literary translation, and critical editing with emphasis on cross-cultural exchange between Eastern and Western poetic traditions.

Shea's publications reveal evolving engagement with experimental forms and international influences, particularly Japanese and Chinese poetry. His recent output demonstrates increasing focus on translation as literary practice while maintaining distinctive American poetic voice.

Notable recognitions include:

• Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant for Hong Kong
• Gwendolyn Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching
• National Endowment for the Arts grant
• Hong Kong Arts Development Council support
• Vermont Arts Council funding

As Poetry Reviews Editor for the Hong Kong Review of Books and advisor to the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, Shea actively shapes regional literary discourse while mentoring emerging writers through institutional programs.