George Bilgere

George Bilgere serves as Professor of English at John Carroll University, maintaining an active presence in both academic and literary spheres with his office located in O'Malley Center 241. His contact details include email gbilgere@jcu.edu and phone 216-397-4746.

Bilgere's creative work centers on contemporary American poetry that masterfully blends humor with poignant observations of everyday life, exploring universal themes of family, mortality, and the human condition through accessible language. His distinctive voice—characterized as "frontal candor" about desire and nostalgia—has established him as a significant figure in 21st-century poetry, often compared to Billy Collins for his conversational style and emotional depth.

His exceptional contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards including:

• National Endowment for the Arts Grant
• Pushcart Foundation Award
• Witter Bynner Foundation Fellowship
• Fulbright Foundation Fellowship
• 2014 Creative Workforce Fellow in Literature

Beyond academia, Bilgere actively engages the public through poetry readings at landmark venues like the Library of Congress and New York's 92nd Street Y, while hosting the innovative weekly radio show WORDPLAY that explores spoken word artistry through poetry and comedy. His work continues to influence contemporary literary discourse through both written and performed mediums.