Michael Brooks Cryer

Michael Brooks Cryer is a Senior Lecturer in the English Department at Arizona State University (ASU), specializing in creative writing, poetry, and rhetoric. He holds an M.F.A. in Poetry (1999) and a B.A. in Classics (1996), both from the University of Arizona. His research interests include 20th-century American literature, composition studies, and rhetoric. Cryer has published extensively, including the poetry collection Selected Proverbs (Elixir Press, 2017), which won the 2016 Antivenom Poetry Award, and the chapbook Channels, Frequencies & Sequences (Four Chambers Press, 2017). His work has appeared in journals such as Quarterly West, Ecotone, and DIAGRAM, as well as freelance music criticism for Phoenix New Times.

Education:

• M.F.A. Poetry, University of Arizona, 1999
• B.A. Classics, University of Arizona, 1996

Research Interests:
Cryer’s creative and scholarly work bridges contemporary poetry, literary analysis, and pedagogical innovation. His poetry engages themes of personal narrative, historical allusion, and experimental form. He frequently explores the intersection of classical traditions (e.g., his classics background) with modern creative practices.

Teaching:
Cryer has taught courses such as ENG 102 (First-Year Composition) and ENG 105 (Advanced First-Year Composition) across multiple semesters since at least 2021. His teaching focuses on composition studies and writing pedagogy.

Awards:

• 2016 Antivenom Poetry Award (Elixir Press)

Professional Activities:
Cryer contributes to literary journals and maintains an active presence in creative writing communities. His work often intersects with interdisciplinary themes, such as the relationship between astronomy and human experience, reflected in his poetry and critical essays.