Mark Magoon

Mark Magoon is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He specializes in composition, literature, and poetry, emphasizing social justice, critical inquiry, and rhetoric in his teaching. His research focuses on sense of place in contemporary American literature and the history of British and American poetics.

Education:

• M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Credential in Teaching Writing (Roosevelt University)
• B.A. in English (University of Iowa)

Research Interests: Magoon explores how setting and discourse shape literature, blending pedagogy with creative writing. His work bridges classroom innovation and community engagement, shown through his role in the First-Year Writing Program and mentorship in the Undergraduate Research Initiative.

Publications: His poetry collection The Upper Peninsula Misses You (2015) examines identity and environment. His writing appears in journals like American Book Review, Midwestern Gothic, and Chicago Review of Books, with recognition via Pushcart Prize nominations and radio features.

Awards & Contributions: Honored with UIC’s Distinguished Teaching Award (2021-2022) and HOPE Award (2016), Magoon has led curriculum development, advised student organizations, and mentored poets in manuscript creation. He currently develops a graphic novel and novel titled Madammeke.