Samantha Ocena

Samantha Ocena is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Global Arts, Media and Writing Studies Department at the University of California, Merced's School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing with Distinction from the University of New Mexico in 2011 and completed her BA in English at the University of California, Berkeley in 2003.

Professor Ocena's creative and scholarly work spans multiple domains of writing and pedagogy:

• Creative Writing across multiple genres (fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction)
• First-Year Composition methodologies
• Innovative Sound & Audio Storytelling techniques
• Collaborative Storytelling approaches
• Professional Writing instruction
• Anti-racist Pedagogy in writing classrooms

Her recent creative output demonstrates a sophisticated integration of traditional literary forms with contemporary media, particularly through her exploration of audio storytelling. Her 2024 book publication has generated significant attention, with launch events scheduled across multiple venues including UC Merced, the University of New Mexico, and Merced Litfest. Her poetry publications in respected journals like Tri-Quarterly, Arc Poetry Magazine, and Dovecote Magazine reveal consistent thematic concerns with identity, spirituality, social justice, and the human condition.

Professor Ocena has developed innovative teaching methods that incorporate audio production skills, having worked with professionals like Andrew Burkum to teach students audio recording and editing using Audacity. Her creative process is deeply influenced by visual art, as evidenced by her artist residency at MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art), which has shaped her ekphrastic poetry writing.