Sandra Alcosser

Sandra Alcosser is Professor of Poetry and Program Co-Director at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she founded and directs the MFA program in creative writing each fall. She is based in the Department of English within the College of Arts and Letters.

Her research and creative work centers on poetry as a vital literary and cultural force, with deep engagement in themes of nature, language, identity, and interdisciplinary art. Her work bridges literary expression with environmental awareness and conservation, exemplified by her role as the National Endowment for the Arts’ first Conservation Poet.

Her recent and historical publications reflect a sustained exploration of poetic form, voice, and the sensory experience of language. Dominant keywords across her work include Literature, Poetry, and Creative Writing, with sub-fields such as Ecopoetics, Nature Poetry, Lyric Poetry, American Poetry, Embodied Language, and Environmental Expression.

• National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship (two awards)
• National Poetry Series Honor
• Academy of American Poets Honor
• Associated Writing Programs Honor
• Larry Levis Award
• William Stafford Award for Poetry
• Merriam Award for Distinguished Contribution to Montana Literature
• Montana’s First Poet Laureate

Sandra Alcosser advises emerging writers through SDSU’s MFA program, which she founded, playing a central role in mentoring graduate students in poetry and creative writing. While specific grant details are not listed, her two NEA fellowships signify major public support for her artistic research. She has also led artist book collaborations with Brighton Press, exhibited internationally, and curated literary initiatives such as Poems for Where the Wild Things Are.

She leads the MFA in Creative Writing program at SDSU, fostering a vibrant community of writers each fall. Her interdisciplinary artistic projects, including international exhibitions of artist books, reflect a collaborative and innovative approach to literary arts.