Renee Simms

Renee Simms is Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at the University of Puget Sound, where she teaches courses in African American literature and black feminist theory. She also contributes to the English department, teaching Advanced Fiction Writing. Her academic and creative work bridges literary scholarship and creative expression.

Education:

• BA, University of Michigan, 1988
• JD, Wayne State University, 1992
• MFA, Arizona State University, 2007

Her research centers on African diaspora literature and black women’s fiction, with additional interests in the intersections of law and literature and community-based writing pedagogies. She explores how narrative forms engage with racial justice, identity, and environmental racism in her teaching and scholarship.

Her recent creative works, including the short story collection Meet Behind Mars, reflect themes of alienation, belonging, and Black futurism. These works span literary fiction and experimental forms, contributing to contemporary African American literary discourse.

Scientific and Literary Honors:

• National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
• Bread Loaf Writers Conference Fellowship
• Ragdale Fellowship
• Vermont Studio Center Fellowship

Renee Simms advises students in creative writing and literature. She has not listed specific funded grants, but her fellowships indicate competitive research and creative support. Her work in community writing pedagogies suggests engagement with public scholarship and student mentorship in narrative justice and civic engagement.

She teaches courses such as Environmental Racism (AFAM 301-A and ENVP 301-A), indicating interdisciplinary collaboration between African American Studies and Environmental Policy. No formal lab or research team is mentioned, but her pedagogical focus implies collaborative student projects in writing and social inquiry.