Ava Homa

Ava Homa serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Humanities & Communication at California State University, Monterey Bay, within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Professor Homa specializes in creative writing and social action, literature, literary fiction, communication, composition, and American Indigenous Literature and Cultures. Her teaching integrates trauma-informed, equity-centered, and anti-racist pedagogies, emphasizing writing as an emotional and ecological process. She creates inclusive, process-driven learning spaces that amplify marginalized voices and challenge systemic barriers.

Professor Homa has established herself as an award-winning author whose creative work bridges storytelling with activism. Her publications have appeared in notable outlets including the Globe and Mail, BBC, Literary Hub, and the Literary Review of Canada.

Notable Awards:

• 2020 Silver Nautilus Award
• Finalist for 2022 William Saroyan Prize
• California Arts Council Fellowship (2023)
• Nomination for 2011 Frank O'Connor Short Story Prize

Professor Homa teaches HCOM 330 (Intro to Creative Writing and Social Action), HCOM 224 (American Indigenous Literature and Cultures), and HCOM 125 (Reading and Writing for College Success), along with several OLLI courses on Kurdish films, Iranian cinema, and the Iranian women's movement. She maintains an open-door policy with office hours by appointment in CAHSS 504-2135.