معرفی
Fredrick Barton is Writer-in-Residence and University Research Professor in the English Department at the University of New Orleans within the College of Liberal Arts, where he has served for over three decades. He founded UNO's Creative Writing Workshop (CWW) and served as its director for seven years across two separate periods, establishing the MFA program in imaginative writing.
Education:
- B.A., Valparaiso University
- MFA, University of Iowa
- Ph.D. (honoris causa) in Humane Letters, Valparaiso University (2009)
Barton specializes in fiction writing with emphases on American and Southern literary traditions, exploring themes of race, history, regional identity, and cultural transformation through innovative narrative structures. His work bridges creative practice and scholarly inquiry, demonstrating deep engagement with social dynamics and human relationships within the American South.
Scientific Awards:
- Alex Waller Memorial Award (Press Club of New Orleans' highest journalism honor)
- Stephen T. Victory Award (Louisiana Bar Association's legal feature writing prize)
- Award of Excellence from National Association of Religious Journals for "Breaches of Faith"
- Press Club of New Orleans' Criticism Prize (awarded 11 times)
As founding director of the Creative Writing Workshop, Barton has mentored generations of graduate fiction writers while holding significant administrative roles including Dean of Liberal Arts and Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, where he led UNO's recovery after Hurricane Katrina. His leadership extends to developing academic infrastructure and crisis response systems.
Barton directs the Creative Writing Workshop ecosystem, which includes the MFA program, graduate fiction seminars, and the "Monday Nights" reading series, fostering a collaborative community for emerging writers and established authors through workshops, publications, and public literary events.
