Samuel Kolawole

Samuel Kolawole is an Assistant Professor of English and African Studies at Pennsylvania State University, with additional faculty roles at Warren Wilson College's MFA Program for Writers. Born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria, he holds a PhD in English and Creative Writing from Georgia State University, an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and an MA from Rhodes University. His critically acclaimed debut novel The Road to the Salt Sea explores global migration crises through a Nigerian protagonist's harrowing journey, earning prestigious awards like the 2025 Whiting Award and PEN/Hemingway recognition.

• Awards: Whiting Award, PEN/Hemingway finalist, Aspen Words Literary Prize longlist
• Education: PhD (Georgia State), MFA (Vermont College), MA (Rhodes University)

His research focuses on creative writing, African diaspora narratives, and the intersection of migration with class and identity. Teaching commitments include full-time fiction writing instruction at PSU. Additional affiliations include the Warren Wilson College MFA Program.