Maria Hummel

Maria Hummel is a Professor of English at the University of Vermont, specializing in creative writing. She holds an MFA from the University of North Carolina (1998). Her work spans poetry, novels, and nonfiction, with notable publications including the poetry collection House and Fire (APR/Honickman Prize, 2013) and novels like Still Lives (2018) and Lesson in Red (2021), the latter selected by Reese Witherspoon's book club. Her upcoming novel Goldenseal (2024) continues her exploration of historical and cultural themes.

• Department: Department of English
• College: College of Arts and Sciences
• Affiliations: UVM VPR Express Grant (2016), Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference (2006)

Her research interests center on creative writing’s intersection with history, memory, and cultural narratives. Her work frequently incorporates historical settings, such as Vermont’s Civil War era and post-WWII Germany, blending fiction with archival inspiration. Her poetry and essays have appeared in Poetry, New England Review, and The New York Times.

Recent awards include the Wallace Stegner Fellowship (2005–07) and multiple Pushcart Prize nominations. Her creative writing courses focus on narrative craft and the fusion of personal and historical memory. She has sold TV rights for Still Lives to Hollywood.