Jon Billman

Jon Billman is an Associate Professor in the English Department at Northern Michigan University. He holds a BA in English from Iowa Wesleyan College and an MFA from Eastern Washington University. His work blends creative nonfiction with outdoor journalism, appearing in prominent publications like Esquire, Outside, and The Paris Review. He authored the novel When We Were Wolves (Random House). Prior to academia, he worked as a wildland firefighter and high school teacher.

• Education:
• BA in English, Iowa Wesleyan College
• MFA, Eastern Washington University

His research focuses on creative nonfiction, journalism, and narrative storytelling with an emphasis on outdoor themes and human experiences. Recent publications explore aging in outdoor contexts, wilderness risk, winter gear innovation, and historical myth analysis. Though no awards are listed, his work demonstrates a strong focus on environmental and adventure narratives. Billman advises students in NMU's MFA in Creative Writing program and resides in Green Garden, Michigan with his family.