Ayana Mathis

Ayana Mathis is a Lecturer in the Department of English at Hunter College, City University of New York, within the School of Arts and Sciences. She is a celebrated author with two acclaimed novels, *The Twelve Tribes of Hattie* (2012) and *The Unsettled* (2023), and essays published in prominent outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Rolling Stone.

Educational Background:

• MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa (Iowa Writers' Workshop)
• Currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary

Research and Creative Focus:

Mathis specializes in Creative Writing and Fiction, blending themes of Literature, Religion, and the socio-political dynamics of American identity. Her recent work examines the intersection of Faith and American Literature, particularly through the lens of race and historical memory, as seen in her five-part New York Times essay series “Imprinted By Belief”.

Scientific and Literary Honors:

• Hodder Fellowship (2025-26) at Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts
• American Academy in Berlin Prize Fellow (2024-25)
• McSweeney’s Gabe Hudson Prize (2023) for *The Unsettled*
• Support from the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, and Bogliasco Foundation
• New York Times Bestseller, Washington Post and The New Yorker Notable Book designations, and inclusion in Time’s and Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2023
• Recognition for *The Twelve Tribes of Hattie* as a 2013 New York Times Notable Book and Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection

Grants and Fellowships:

Mathis has received funding and residencies from the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, and Bogliasco Foundation. She is a 2025-26 Hodder Fellow at Princeton and a 2024-25 American Academy in Berlin Prize Fellow.

Contact:

Her academic contact is am14977@hunter.cuny.edu. Her office is located at Hunter College, 68th Street West, Room 1228.