Tom Barbash

Tom Barbash is a Professor in the Writing and Literature Program at California College of the Arts (CCA). He holds a BA from Haverford College, an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and additional studies at Stanford University. His work spans fiction, nonfiction, and literary journalism. Barbash is renowned for his novels, short story collections, and nonfiction books, including Stay Up With Me, The Last Good Chance, and On Top of the World. His publications have garnered awards and recognition, including the California Book Award and nominations for prestigious prizes like the Folio Prize.

Barbash teaches creative writing, runs CCA’s Friday Reading Series, and has lectured at institutions such as UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Rice University. He has been featured in prominent publications like the New York Times, McSweeney’s, and Narrative Magazine, and his interviews with literary figures like Kazuo Ishiguro and Jonathan Franzen are widely published. His nonfiction work on the 9/11 Cantor Fitzgerald tragedy became a New York Times bestseller, leading to media appearances on shows like Larry King Live.

Barbash has received fellowships from institutions such as the MacDowell Colony and Yaddo, and his stories have been performed by theater groups nationwide. His research interests include narrative structure, historical storytelling, and the intersection of literature with public discourse.