Zach Simon

Zach Simon is a Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing-Poetry from the same institution (2024) and a BA from Lewis & Clark College (2017). His research focuses on creative writing and poetry, with recent publications in Poetry Northwest and Hayden’s Ferry Review. Simon serves as an editorial assistant for Poetry Northwest and has received the 2022 AWP Intro Journals Award for his poem “Homestead.”

• Education:
• MFA in Creative Writing-Poetry, University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign, 2024
• BA, Lewis & Clark College, 2017

His teaching excellence has been recognized through awards, including the 2024 Rhetoric Program Award for Teaching Excellence. He teaches courses such as RHET 105: Writing and Research, CW 106: Introduction to Poetry, and CW 200: Reading for Writers. Simon’s work bridges creative practice and pedagogy, emphasizing poetry’s role in literary education.

• Awards:
• Rhetoric Program Award for Teaching Excellence (2024)
• Department of English Undergraduate Teaching Award (2023)