Derek Nikitas

Derek Nikitas is an Associate Professor and Undergraduate Advisor in the Department of English at the University of Rhode Island. He is also a visiting assistant professor and曾 served as a visiting faculty member at the Dzanc Books Disquiet International literary program in Lisbon, Portugal. He holds a PhD in English (Creative Writing) from Georgia State University and an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His research focuses on fiction writing, screenwriting, film studies, and genre fiction.

Education: PhD in English (Creative Writing Concentration) from Georgia State University, MFA in Fiction Writing from University of North Carolina at Wilmington, B.A. in English from SUNY Brockport. He has been a Walter E. Dakin Fellow at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference.

Research interests include narrative craft in fiction and screenwriting, with a focus on thriller and speculative genres. His work frequently explores themes of moral complexity, societal dynamics, and character-driven suspense. He is the director of the Bluegrass Writers Studio, a low-residency MFA program at Eastern Kentucky University.

Notable awards include an Edgar Award nomination for his debut novel Pyres and recognition from the Washington Post for The Long Division. His collaborative works with James Patterson in the Bookshots series highlight his versatility in thriller writing. He actively teaches creative writing courses including advanced fiction, screenwriting, and seminars in genre innovation.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Bluegrass Writers Studio MFA program; affiliated with URI’s English Department creative writing initiatives.