Matt Randal O'Wain

Matt Randal O’Wain is a Teaching Assistant Professor and Divisional Faculty Development Facilitator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa. His creative work focuses on memoir, short stories, and Southern literature, with notable publications including Meander Belt (2019) and Hallelujah Station (2020). His research spans diverse areas such as African American Literature, Ecocriticism, and Queer Theory. O’Wain has received multiple teaching awards, including the W.R. Irwin Award for Excellence in Teaching (2014) and the Zone 3 Fiction Award (2018). His creative works have been adapted into films, earning recognition at festivals like Oxford Film Festival and Memphis Indie Film Festival.

Education: MFA (2015, Nonfiction Writing Program, University of Iowa); Undergraduate degrees from University of North Carolina at Asheville (2012), with distinctions in English and Creative Writing.

Research interests blend creative practice with critical theory, emphasizing pedagogy, post-colonial literature, and the intersection of literature with science, religion, and philosophy. His teaching portfolio includes courses like Intro to Creative Nonfiction and 21st Century Essay.

Awards include prestigious recognitions for both teaching (e.g., multiple University of Iowa fellowships) and creative output, such as the Carl Sandburg Award for Poetry (2012). His work often explores themes of identity, social justice, and Southern culture through a lens of aesthetic innovation.