Suzanne Buffam

Suzanne Buffam is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Chicago, specializing in innovative poetic forms. Her work bridges lyric poetry, prose poetry, and hybrid genres through a lens of metaphysical inquiry and cultural critique.

• Education: MFA from Iowa Writers’ Workshop, University of Iowa (2000)

Research Focus:
Explores intersections between historical traditions and contemporary culture, particularly focusing on:

• Lyric and prose poetry
• Hybrid forms (zuihitsu tradition)
• Epistemological uncertainties
• Personal and cultural anxieties
• Humor as philosophical tool

Publication Highlights:
Three major works spanning 15+ years demonstrate evolving experimentation with form and content, including a globally inspired reinterpretation of Sei Shonagon's zuihitsu tradition in A Pillow Book (2016).

Scientific Recognition:
Award-winning poet with:

• Griffin Prize finalist (2011)
• Gerald Lampert Award winner (2005)
• Fellowships from NEA, Writers' Trust, and Canada Council

Teaching Philosophy:
Promotes open inquiry across educational contexts - artist colonies, online mentorships, and traditional classrooms - emphasizing perplexity as a starting point for literary exploration.