James McManus

James McManus is a Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), teaching courses in creative writing and literature. He also holds the Lois and Willard Mackey Chair in Creative Writing at Beloit College (2010) and serves on the advisory board of the Mind Sport Research Network at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

Education:

• BA, 1974, University of Illinois at Chicago
• MA, 1977, University of Illinois at Chicago

Research & Writing: McManus is a celebrated author and journalist, specializing in narrative nonfiction, poetry, and sports writing. His works include The Education of a Poker Player, Positively Fifth Street, and contributions to The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Harper's. His interests span poker culture, literary journalism, and creative prose.

Awards:

• Peter Lisagor Award for Sports Journalism
• Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency
• Guggenheim Fellowship in Poetry
• NEA Fellowships in Poetry and Prose

Courses & Mentorship: Teaches courses like Masterworks: Raymond Carver and supervises graduate creative writing projects. Encourages students to engage deeply with literary analysis and creative response.