معرفی
Brad Kessler is an Affiliate Faculty member at Antioch University's MFA in Creative Writing program. A critically acclaimed novelist and non-fiction writer, he maintains an active academic role while co-managing a goat dairy farm in Vermont. His educational background includes an MFA from New School University and specialized training in the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma.
Kessler's scholarly interests bridge literary arts and social documentation, with focus areas spanning:
- Creative writing pedagogy and cross-genre experimentation
- Refugee experiences and displacement narratives
- Documentary storytelling techniques
- Sustainable agriculture and food heritage
- Intersections of trauma, resilience, and place
Kessler's literary output demonstrates recurring engagement with themes of displacement, ecological interdependence, and cultural preservation. His recent documentary work examines refugee resettlement patterns, while earlier fiction investigates human responses to trauma through both contemporary and historical lenses.
Notable honors recognizing his contributions include:
- Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Fiction
- Rome Prize from American Academy of Arts and Letters
- Whiting Writers Award
- National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
- Lange-Taylor Prize for Documentary Work
- Multiple finalist distinctions for recent publications
Beyond Antioch, Kessler has lectured at institutions including Northwestern University, Smith College, and the Kenyan Writer's Workshop. He co-manages a working farm that serves as both agricultural enterprise and creative laboratory, collaborating with photographer Dona Ann McAdams on interdisciplinary projects.
