January Gill O'Neil

January Gill O'Neil is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Salem State University, teaching courses including Introduction to Poetry, The Craft of Poetry, and Creative Writing Workshop: Poetry. Her instructional focus bridges foundational and advanced creative writing pedagogy.

She earned her BA from Old Dominion University and MFA from New York University.

O'Neil's creative scholarship explores identity, memory, and social justice through contemporary poetry. Her four published collections—Underlife (2009), Misery Islands (2014), Rewilding (2018), and Glitter Road (2024)—demonstrate evolving thematic depth in lyrical storytelling. Her work frequently engages with historical narratives and communal healing.

Her accolades include:

• Finalist for the 2024 New England Book Award
• 2022 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award for "At the Rededication of the Emmett Till Memorial"
• Fellowships from Massachusetts Cultural Council, Cave Canem, and Barbara Deming Memorial Fund
• John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at University of Mississippi (2019-2020)

O'Neil leverages her Massachusetts Poetry Festival leadership (2012-2018) and current AWP board chairmanship (2022-2025) to advance literary community initiatives. Her fellowships have directly supported the creation of award-winning collections while enabling mentorship of emerging poets through institutional partnerships.