Shane Kowalski

Shane Kowalski is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Ursinus College, where he teaches courses on shorter narrative forms, absurdist literature, and emotional vulnerability in writing. He graduated from Ursinus College in 2011 with a B.A. in English and earned his M.F.A. in Fiction from Cornell University.

• B.A. in English (Ursinus College, 2011)
• M.F.A. in Creative Writing (Cornell University)

His research focuses on experimental narrative structures, absurdist storytelling, and interpersonal dynamics in fiction. He has published works in Conjunctions, The Iowa Review, and other literary journals, often exploring existential themes and emotional ambiguity.

Recent publications include Small Moods (2022) and stories in HAD (2023), Conjunctions (2023), and Triangle House Review (2022), featuring techniques like non-linear storytelling, metaphysical symbolism, and minimalist character development.

• 2022 Freund Prize (Cornell University) – $5,000 award for publication excellence

At Ursinus, he leads workshops across genres and developed the course “Nothing Makes Sense,” analyzing chaotic narrative frameworks. He was recently involved in the launch of the college’s new Creative Writing major (2024).