Halley Cotton

Halley Cotton is an Instructor in the Department of English at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), within the College of Arts and Sciences. Her roles include managing editor of the Birmingham Poetry Review, contributing editor for NELLE, and production manager for both publications. She founded the SPARK Writing Festival and has published work in journals like The Greensboro Review, Poetry South, and Smokelong Quarterly.

Education:

• A.A.S., Jefferson State Community College, Biology
• B.A., University of Alabama at Birmingham, English/Creative Writing
• M.A., University of Alabama at Birmingham, English/Creative Writing/Poetry

Research & Teaching Interests: Folklore, fairytales, creative writing, community writing, nature writing, and poetry. She also emphasizes the intersection of nature and literary expression, often blending her passion for folklore with poetic exploration.

Awards: Recipient of the 2022 State Council on the Arts Poetry Fellowship.

Professional Contributions: Teaches freshman composition and literature. Active in literary community initiatives, including festival organization and editorial leadership. Balances academic work with kayaking, four-leaf clover hunting, and folklore studies.