Sascha Feinstein

Sascha Feinstein is Professor of English and Co-Director of the Creative Writing Program at Lycoming College, where he holds the Robert L. & Charlene Shangraw Professorship in the Liberal Arts. He teaches courses in creative writing, poetry, and literature, and is deeply engaged in the interdisciplinary study of jazz and literary arts.

Education:

• B.A., University of Rochester
• M.F.A., Indiana University–Bloomington
• Ph.D., Indiana University–Bloomington

Feinstein's research and creative work centers on poetry, jazz literature, and creative nonfiction. He is widely recognized for his exploration of jazz poetry and the cultural intersections between music and writing. His scholarship includes critical studies, edited anthologies, and personal memoirs that reflect on art, memory, and identity. His literary output spans poetry, essays, and editorial projects that bridge academic and artistic communities.

An analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on jazz as a literary and cultural force. His works blend personal narrative with scholarly inquiry, often exploring improvisation, memory, and artistic legacy. Themes of creativity, loss, and transformation recur across genres, particularly in memoirs like Wreckage and Black Pearls, and in his editorial projects such as Brilliant Corners and The Jazz Fiction Anthology.

Scientific and Literary Awards:

• Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Artist of the Year (2008)
• Hayden Carruth Award for Misterioso
• Junior Teaching Award, Lycoming College
• Senior Teaching Award, Lycoming College

Feinstein has been a dedicated mentor and educator, recognized for excellence in teaching. He has advised numerous students through the Creative Writing Program and has contributed to academic and public discourse through lectures, readings, and radio programming. For seventeen years, he hosted Jazz Standards on WVIA, enriching public understanding of jazz. His editorial leadership of Brilliant Corners since 1996 has created a vital platform for jazz and literature scholarship.

Labs, Teams, and Projects:
He founded and continues to edit Brilliant Corners: A Journal of Jazz & Literature, a key interdisciplinary publication. He also co-directed the Creative Writing Program, fostering student creativity and literary development.