Bland Simpson

Bland Simpson is a Kenan Distinguished Professor of English & Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in American Literature, Creative Writing, and Southern Studies. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill in 1973. His research focuses on coastal Carolina history, environmental narratives, and regional identity.

Awarded the North Carolina Award for Fine Arts (2005), John Tyler Caldwell Award (2017), and induction into the NC Literary Hall of Fame (2020), Simpson is also a Tony Award-winning collaborator for Fool Moon. He has authored nine books, including Into the Sound Country and North Carolina: Land of Water, Land of Sky.

Since 1986, he has been the pianist for The Red Clay Ramblers, blending music with theater. His teaching includes courses on playwriting, musical theater, and creative non-fiction. He has advised numerous students through UNC’s Creative Writing programs.