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Lee Griffith

Writing professor

Education

  • M.F.A., creative writing, University of Memphis
  • B.A., English, Middlebury College

Credentials

  • Professor, writing, 2010–present
    Graduate coordinator, Department of Writing, 2016–present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
  • Adjunct assistant professor of writing studies and composition, School for University Studies, Fall 2009, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
  • Graduate teaching assistant, English department, 2007–2008, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
  • Tutor, writing center, Fall 2009, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
  • Tutor, creative writing, 2008, Memphis, TN

Professional experience

  • Judge (Publishers Weekly), Quarterfinals, Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, 2009–2014
  • Writer, Magadoo Film Productions, New York, 2008–2011
  • Book Reviewer, fiction and nonfiction, Publishers Weekly, New York, 2008–2014

Awards, recognitions, and honors

  • Sabbatical Award, SCAD, 2017
  • "Notable Essay of 2011," The Best American Essays 2012, 2011
  • 2011 Colorado Book Award, Nomination, 2010
  • The Graduate Research Award (thesis), University of Memphis, 2009
  • Graduate Assistantship (The Pinch), University of Memphis, 2008
  • Departmental Concentration Award, University of Memphis, 2008
  • Donovan Travel Enrichment Fund Grant, University of Memphis, 2008

Organizations

  • National Book Critics Circle, 2010–present
  • The Author's Guild, 2018–present
  • The Association of Writers & Writing Programs, 2009–present

Publications and presentations

  • "Robert Stone Interview," with Stephanie Anderson and John Schultze, in Conversations with Robert Stone, William Heath, ed., University Press of Mississippi, 2017.
  • "The Auctioneers" (shortlisted, "Notable Essay of 2011"), The Best American Essays 2012, David Brooks and Robert Atwan, eds., 2012.
  • "Minding the Gaps: PW talks with Margaret Wrinkle," Publishers Weekly, Dec. 2012.
  • "Book Review: Padgett Powell," Oxford American online, July 2012.
  • "An Improbable Business: PW Talks with Padgett Powell," Publishers Weekly, Apr. 2012.
  • "Strange and Memorable: PW Talks with Kevin Wilson," Publishers Weekly, May 2011.
  • "Still Kicking: PW Talks with Steve Earle," Publishers Weekly, March 2011.
  • "PW Talks with Barb Johnson," Publishers Weekly, Sept. 2009.
  • "Austria: Art, Architecture, Design," Modern Painters, Oct. 2008 (93–107). Rpt. in Art+Auction, Feb. 2009 (89–103).
  • "Old Masters, New Design—All Dutch," Culture+Travel, 2.6, Fall 2008 (35–38). Rpt. in Art+Auction, Jan. 2009 (79-82).
  • "MFA in Memphis Interviews Robert Stone," On the Southern Track with Stephanie Anderson and John Schulze, Fall 2006.
  • "The Graduate Reading Series: an Interview with Anna Mullins," On the Southern Track, Fall 2007.
  • "Miller's Works of Art Include University's Landscape," Update: the Newsletter for University of Memphis Faculty and Staff, Oct. 2007.
  • "Porter Lauded for Outstanding Contributions to U of M," Update: the Newsletter for University of Memphis Faculty and Staff, Oct. 2007.
  • "Thomas' Distinguished Work Earns Her Praise, Award," Update: the Newsletter for University of Memphis Faculty and Staff, Oct. 2007.
  • "Brown Takes Financial Aid Counseling to a New Level," Update: the Newsletter for University of Memphis Faculty and Staff, Oct. 2007.
  • Articles and profiles for The Burlington Free Press, Burlington, Vt., 1997–1998:
    • "Local Business Is Fit to be Bow Tied"
    • "Parini at Home Writing in Vermont"
    • "Old Stone Row's History on the Books"
    • "Town Has Night at Opera House"
    • "Shop to Rise from Ashes"
    • "Mary's to Raise Money for Charity"
    • "Police Regain Trust"
    • "Board to Meet Teachers March 31"
    • "Skate Park Rides into Third Year"
    • "Children Get a Kick Out of Ski League, Lessons"
    • "Delinquent Tax Total at High Mark"
    • "Teachers to Address Contract"

Editorial

  • Artemis, fiction editor, (2019).
  • Document, co-editor, Volumes 2–7(Winter 2011–Spring 2017).
  • Le Navigateur, founding editor-in-chief, (Winter 2014).
  • The Pinch, contributing editor (Fall 2009–present).
  • The Pinch, managing editor, 29.1 (Spring 2009).
  • The Pinch, assistant managing editor, 28.2 (Fall 2008).
  • The Pinch, fiction editor, 28.1 (Spring 2008).
  • The Pinch, assistant fiction editor, 27.2 (Fall 2007).
  • The Pinch, editorial assistant, 27.1 (Spring 2007).
  • "It Feels Like Life: An Interview with Mark Doty," The Pinch, 28.2 (109–118).
  • "The Frank Enthusiast: An Interview with Linda Gregerson," The Pinch, 27.2 (138–147).

Conference papers, colloquia, and lectures

  • "Laugh to Keep from Crying: Using Humor to Write Through Pain," moderator, with Ariel Felton, Harrison Scott Key, Cal Morgan, and Lauren Wolf, AWP Conference, Los Angeles, Apr. 2016.
  • "Litercial: Authors, Agents, Reviewers Discuss the Mashup of Commercial and Literary Fiction," with Samuel Park, Ashley Michelle Roach (moderator), and Courtney Santo, AWP Conference, Minneapolis, Apr. 2015.
  • "So You're a Writer. (Sha na na na, sha na na na na na) Get a Job!" with Beth Concepcion (moderator), James Lough, and Craig Teicher. AWP Conference, Minneapolis, Apr. 2015.
  • "'My Mother Discusses John Irving': Genre, Expectations, and Meaning in Fiction and Nonfiction," craft lecture, Harlaxton College, U.K., June 2013.
  • Visiting Writer, Harlaxton Summer Writing Program, Harlaxton College, U.K., Spring 2011.
  • "Jes Grew Finds Its Text: Ishmael Reed's Neo-Hoodoo and Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'" (paper presentation to African-American literature graduate class), University of Memphis, Nov. 2008.
  • "Forms of Devotional Poetry: 17th Century to the Present" (lecture to graduate poetry class), University of Memphis, Apr. 2008.
  • "A Marxist in 'The Temple'" (lecture to graduate literary theory class), University of Memphis, Apr. 2008.
  • "The Elements of Short Fiction," (workshop leader at the annual Lausanne Young Writers Symposium), Memphis, Jan. 2008.
  • "Situating Written Commentary to Student Writing" (lecture to graduate pedagogy class), University of Memphis, Nov. 2007.
  • "Introduction to the Creative Nonfiction of Dennis Covington: Creating an Unknowing Self" (presentation to graduate forms class), University of Memphis, Nov. 2007.
  • "Introduction to Creative Nonfiction and Fiction," (workshop leader at the annual Lausanne Young Writers Symposium), Memphis, Jan. 2007.