Alan D Soldofsky

Alan D Soldofsky is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at San José State University, where he directs the MFA Program in Creative Writing and coordinates the Creative Writing Program. He has been an influential figure in the Bay Area poetry community since 1973, contributing as a poet, critic, and literary programs organizer.

• Education: Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa (1972)

His primary research interests include contemporary poetry and poetics, with a focus on creative practice and the interplay of attention and temporality in poetic form. His work often explores the immediacy of the present moment and the philosophical implications of language and perception.

Soldofsky’s publications include the poetry collection In the Buddha Factory (Truman State University Press, 2013) and three chapbooks: Kenora Station, Staying Home, and Holding Adam / My Father's Books, the latter featuring collaborations with his son, Adam Soldofsky. His poems have appeared in prestigious journals such as The Antioch Review, The Georgia Review, and Poetry East. He has also published essays on modern and contemporary poets in periodicals like Narrative and The Writer's Chronicle.

Scientific Awards:

• Three-time Pushcart Prize nominee

Soldofsky’s career spans teaching, program leadership, and literary community engagement. He co-edited Donald Justice’s Compendium: A Collection of Thoughts on Prosody and has contributed to the development of creative writing education through his roles at San José State University and the Center for Literary Arts.