Eileen Favorite

Eileen Favorite is an Adjunct Professor in the Liberal Arts department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). She holds a B.A. in English with a French minor from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MFA in Writing from SAIC. A recipient of SAIC’s Karen and Jim Frank Excellence in Teaching Award (2019-2020), she specializes in creative writing, Irish literature, and nonfiction. Her work bridges personal narrative with broader sociopolitical themes, as seen in her novel The Heroines and essays addressing racial injustice and cultural identity.

Her teaching focuses on interdisciplinary writing courses such as Irish Literature, FYS II: Irish Rebels, and Contemporary Narrative: Love the Art/Hate the Artist. These courses emphasize critical analysis, argumentation, and research-driven writing. Her research interests include postcolonial narratives, feminist theory, and the intersection of personal essay with historical inquiry.

Favorite has been recognized as a leader in Chicago’s literary arts community, with awards including the Illinois Arts Council Awardee for Nonfiction (2021) and Midwest Review’s First Place in Nonfiction (2019). Her work often explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage, reflecting her commitment to storytelling as a tool for social reflection.