Cecily Nicholson

Cecily Nicholson is the Holloway Lecturer in the Practice of Poetry and a Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of California, Berkeley. She concurrently holds an Assistant Professor position in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Her work bridges poetry, social justice, and environmental themes. Nicholson has authored five poetry collections, including her most recent Crowd Source, which explores crows’ daily behaviors through a literary lens. She actively volunteers with Emma’s Acres, an agricultural social enterprise focused on restorative justice for communities impacted by incarceration and food insecurity. Nicholson’s accolades include the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize and a Governor General’s Literary Award.

Her research interests emphasize the intersection of poetry with social and environmental issues, particularly through community engagement. She teaches creative writing while advocating for arts education’s role in fostering social cohesion. Office hours are Tuesdays 12:30–2:30 PM at Wheeler Hall 442, UC Berkeley.