Alyse Bensel

Dr. Alyse Bensel is an Assistant Professor of English at Brevard College, where she teaches Creative Writing, Composition, American Literature, and Critical Theory. She serves as Faculty Advisor for Chiaroscuro, Brevard’s undergraduate literary journal, and directs the Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference, a national literary event. Her research explores intersections of literature, ecology, and social justice, with a focus on poetic biographies and experimental forms.

Education

• Ph.D., University of Kansas
• M.F.A., Pennsylvania State University
• B.A., Washington College

Research & Publications
Dr. Bensel’s creative work includes the poetry collection Rare Wondrous Things (Green Writers Press, 2020)—a biographical tribute to naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian—and three chapbooks. Her poems and essays have appeared in prestigious journals like Alaska Quarterly Review, Pleiades, and West Branch. She has also contributed book reviews to The Los Angeles Review and serves as Poetry Editor for Cherry Tree.

Professional Roles

• Former Book Reviews Editor for The Los Angeles Review (2013–2018)
• Director of the Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference
• Advisor for Chiaroscuro literary journal

Recent Work Trends
Her recent publications emphasize ecological awareness and marginalized voices, blending scientific terminology with lyrical innovation. Articles like In the Group Home (2018) investigate creative writing’s role in supporting disenfranchised youth.