Faculty Awards & Honors
Chris Abani, Professor
Creative Writing
- Winner, PEN Beyond the Margins Award for "Song For Night", 2008
- Nominated for Lamada Award "The Virgin of Flames", 2008
- Recipient, Distinguished Humanist Award (UC, Riverside), 2008
- Pushcart Nomination for "Sanctificum" (poetry), 2007
- New York Times Editor's Choice "Song for Night", 2007
- Finalist, PEN Beyond the Margins Award "Becoming Abigail", 2007
- A Barnes and Noble Discovery Selection "The Virgin of Flames", 2007
- A New York Times Editor's Choice "The Virgin of Flames", 2007
- A New York Libraries Books For Teens Selection "Becoming Abigail", 2007
- A New York Times Editor's Choice "Becoming Abigail", 2006
- A Chicago Reader Critic's Choice "Becoming Abigail", 2006
- A selection of the Essence Magazine Book Club "Becoming Abigail", 2006
- A selection of the Black Expressions Book Club "Becoming Abigail", 2006
- Pushcart Nomination "A Way To Turn This To Light" (poetry), 2006
- Finalist for IMPAC Dublin Prize "Grace Land", 2006
- Winner, PEN Hemingway Book Prize "Grace Land", 2005
- Winner Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Debut Fiction "Grace Land", 2005
- Silver Medal, California Book Award for Fiction "Grace Land", 2005
- Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction "Grace Land", 2005
- Finalist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best Books (Africa Region) "Grace Land", 2005
- Pushcart Nomination for "Blooding" Story Quarterly 2005
- Barnes and Noble Discover New Writers "Grace Land", 2004
- New York Times Editor's Choice "Grace Land", 2004
- Nominated for The Kingsley Tufts Prize "Dog Woman" (poetry), 2004
- Nominated for The Griffin Prize "Dog Woman" (poetry), 2004
- Lannan Foundation Literary Fellowship, USA, 2003
- Hellman/Hammet Grant from Human Rights Watch, USA, 2003
- Imbonge Yesizwe Poetry International Award, South Africa, 2002
- PEN USA West Freedom - to - Write Award, USA, 2001
- Prince Claus Award for Literature & Culture, The Netherlands, 2001
- Middleton Fellowship, University of Southern California, USA, 2001
- Delta Fiction Award, Nigeria (Masters of the Board), 1983
Reza Aslan, Assistant Professor
Creative Writing
- Short-list for the Guardian (UK), First Book Award, 2005
- Nomination, PEN USA Award for Research Non-Fiction, 2005
- Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction, University of Iowa, 2000
Eric Barr, Professor
Theatre
- Telluride IndieFest, Winner, "Cirque Berserk", 2004
- Sundance Film Festival, Finalist, "Hole In The Sky", 2001
- Sundance Film Festival, competition finalist for script, "Mack's Mountain", 2000
- Writers Network, competition finalist for script, "Mack's Mountain", 1998
- Hilberry Fellowships for MFA work at Wayne State University, 1972, 1974
- Jewish Vocational Society: Scholarship for Study Abroad, 1971-72
Christopher Buckley, Professor
Creative Writing
- National Endowment for the Arts Grant in Poetry, 2001
- Finalist, Rainer Maria Rilke International Poetry Competition, 1999
- Finalist, Patterson Poetry Prize--Fall From Grace, 1999
- Winner, Passager Annual Poetry Contest, Passager Poet 1998
- 1st Runner Up Poetry, New Letters Literary Awards, 1998
- PA System of Higher Education grant in Creative Arts, 1997
- PA Council on the Arts Fellowship Grant in Poetry, 1994
- E. Riley Holman Memorial Award in Creativity, West Chester University, 1994
- Pushcart Prize XV III, 1994
- Disciplinary Winner (poetry), Pew Fellowship in the Arts, 1993
- The Faculty Merit Award, West Chester University, 1992
- Best Poem, Vi Gale Award, Hubbub Magazine Vol. IX, 1992
- PA System of Higher Education grant in Creative Arts, 1992
- Pushcart Prize XVI, 1992
- PA State System of Higher Education grant in Creative Arts, 1991
- Pushcart Prize XV, 1991
- Artist-in-Residence, Ucross Foundation, Wyoming, 1990
- PA State System of Higher Education grant in Creative Arts, 1990
- The Trustees Achievement Award, West Chester University, 1991
- Research & Publication Grant, West Chester University, 1989
- Fulbright Award in Creative Writing to Yugoslavia, 1989
- Gertrude B. Claytor Memorial Award, The Poetry Society of America, 1988
- PA State System of Higher Education grant in Creative Arts, 1988
- John Atherton Fellow in Poetry, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, 1988
- Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship Grant in Poetry, 1988
- Gertrude B. Claytor Memorial Award, The Poetry Society of America, 1987
- West Chester New Faculty Scholarship Development Award, 1988
- Writer's Choice Award, 1985
- Pushcart Prize X, 1985
- CISR Research Grant, Murray State University, 1984
- National Endowment for the Arts Grant in Poetry, 1984
Mike Davis, Professor
Creative Writing
- Culture Prize of the University of Munich, 2008
- Nonfiction Literary Award, Lannan Foundation, 2007
- Esther McCoy Award, USC Architectural Guild, 2006
- Erich Shelling Architekturpreis ("outstanding contribution towards the architecture-theoretical discourse"), 2004
- Carey McWilliams Award, California Studies Association, 1999
- Emil Freed Award, Southern California Library for Social Research,1999
- MacArthur Fellow, 1998
- The Isaac Deutscher Prize, 1991
- Nominee, National Book Critics Circle Award, 1991
Charles Evered, Assistant Professor
Theatre
- Palm Springs Film Festival, Palm Springs, CA, "Adopt A Sailor", 2009
- Women's International Film & Television Showcase, Los Angeles, CA, "Adopt A Sailor", 2008
- Williamstown Film Festival, Williamstown, MA, "Adopt A Sailor", 2008
- Artist-In-Residence, Robeson Center, Princeton, N.J., 2008
- Outstanding Play, "Boston" Notes from the Underground Festival, Curan Repertory Company, 2008
- Lucas Artist Fellowship, Villa Montalvo, 2004
- Berrilla Kerr Award for Outstanding Work in Theatre, 1996
- Amblin/Chesterfield Fellowship, 1991
- The William Flanagan Fellowship, Edward Albee Foundation, 1991
- The Hendon Fellowship, Yale University, 1991
- The Bert Linder Fellowship, Millay Colony, 1991
- The George Pierce Baker Scholarship, Yale University, 1991
- The Eugene O'Neill Writing Scholarship, Yale University, 1990
- The Audrey Wood Writing Scholarship, Yale University, 1989
- The Crawford Playwriting Award for "Running Funny", 1988
Juan Felipe Herrera, Tomás Rivera Endowed Professor
Creative Writing
- National Book Critics Circle Award for "Half of the World in Light: New and Selected Poems, 2008
- Montalvo Arts Center Fellowship & Residency Award, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, CA, 2009
- Judge for Box Car Review Poetry Finalists, 2009
- Finalist, National Book Critic's Circle Award, "Half of the World in Light: New and Collected Poems", 2009
- Nomination, California Poet Laureate, California Arts Council, 2008
- Judge for Walt Whitman Award, Academy of American Poets, 2008-2009
- PEN USA Book Award, "187 Reasons Mexicanos Can't Cross the Border: Undocuments", 2008
- PEN Oakland- Josephine Miles National Poetry Award,"187 Reasons Mexicanos Can't Cross the Border: Undocuments", 2008
- Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award for "Downtown Boy", 2007
- Independent Publishers Award, (Multicultural Juv/YA Category), "Featherless/Desplumado", 2006
- Americas Book Award, "Cinnamon Girl: Letters Found Inside a Cereal Box", 2006
- Thurber House Children's Book Residency Nomination, 2005
- Featured Review of "Notebooks of a Chile Verde Smuggler", El Paso Times, Charlotte Zolotow Honors, Top Ten Books of 2002 "Grandma and Me at the Flea", 2003
- Nomination, Best Books in Northern California, "Notebooks of a Chile Verde Smuggler", Bay Area Book Reviewers Association (BABRA), 2003
- Skipping Stones Honor Award, "Grandma and Me at the Flea", 2003
- Americas Honor Award, "Grandma and Me at the Flea", 2003
- Nomination, Thurber House Children's Book Residency, 2003
- Phi Kappa Phi University Artist Award, CSU-Fresno, 2002
- Nomination, Poet Laureate of California, California Arts Council, April, 2002
- Co-winner first place, Latino Literary Hall of Fame in Poetry for "Giraffe on Fire", 2002
- Starred Review of "Notebooks of a Chile Verde Smuggler", Publisher's Weekly, 2002
- Featured Review of "Notebooks of a Chile Verde Smuggler", SF Chronicle, Datebook, 2002
- Texas Libraries Master List, "The Upside Down Boy", 2001
- Cuatrogatos Bilingual Book of the Year Award, "The Upside Down Boy", Book Award in poetry, 2001
- Finalist, Western States Book Award in poetry "Thunderweavers", 2001
- Outstanding Book for High School Students, The New York Public Library, "Thunderweavers", 2001
- BABRA Award Nomination, "Giraffe on Fire", 2001
- LA Times Book Award Nomination, "Crashboomlove", 2000
- New York Public Library Winner for Books for the Teen Age, for 1999, "Crashboomlove", 2000
- Americas Award, Library of Congress, "Crashboomlove", 2000
- Latino Literary Hall of Fame – Poetry, "Crashboomlove", 2000
- Smithsonian Notable Book of the Year, "The Upside Down Boy", 2000
- Texas Blue Bonnet Nomination, "The Upside Down Boy", 2000
- Acquisition of JF Herrera Papers & Archives, Stanford University, Latin American, Mexican American, Iberian Collections, 1999
- FOCAL Award (Friends of Children & Literature), "Calling the Doves", 1998
- Starred Review of "Mayan Drifter" in Publisher's Weekly Forecasts, 1997
- Ezra Jack Keats Award, "Calling the Doves", 1997
- University of California Regent's Lecturer Fellowship / Berkeley, 1996, 1997
- Winner, Award of Distinction, Hungry Mind Review, "Calling the Doves", 1996
- IRA Teachers Choice, "Calling the Doves", 1996
- Smithsonian Notable Children's Book, "Calling the Doves", 1996
- Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice, "Calling the Doves", 1996
- Nomination, Pushcart Prize Poetry, 1995
- Nomination, BABRA Award Poetry, "Night Train to Tuxtla", 1995
- Nomination for the William Carlos Williams Poetry Award, Academy of American Poets, 1995
- Nomination, Pushcart Prize Poetry, 1994
- Lila-Wallace National Touring Fellowship, 1992
- University of Iowa Playwright's Festival Entry, 1990
- University of Iowa Teaching Excellence Award,1990
- Bread Loaf Fellowship -- Middlebury College, Vermont, 1990
- University of Iowa Journal of Literature Poetry Prize, 1990
- Pura Belpre Award Honors, "Laughing Out Loud, I Fly",1990
- University of Iowa Fellowship,1988
- California Arts Council Grant -- Arts in Corrections (Soledad Correctional Facility), 1987
- San Jose Council for the Arts Performance Fellowship, 1985
- El Paso Poetry Prize, University of Texas, 1985
- Poetry Prize, University of California, Irvine, 1985
- National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship, 1985
- California Arts Council Grant, 1983
- Stanford Chicano Fellows Fellowship, 1979
- Nomination, Stanford University Danforth Fellowship, 1979
- National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship, 1979
- California Arts Council Grant, 1977
- Stanford University Fellowship,1977
- California Arts Commission Artist Grant, 1974
- UCLA Chicano Studies Grant, 1970
- UCLA Fellowship, 1967-1971
Rickerby Hinds, Associate Professor
Theatre
- Finalist, American College Theater Festivals, Regional, 2003
- Honoree of the Month, City of Riverside Arts, Riverside, CA, May 2005
- "Straight From Tha Underground" named National Underground Railroad Site, National Park Service, Washington, DC, 2005
- One of the Top 20 people under 40 "You should know" in the Inland Empire, Inland Empire Magazine, 2005
- Resident Fellow, Center for Ideas and Society, UC Riverside, 2005
Erith Jaffe-Berg, Assistant Professor
Theatre
- Research Scholar, UCLA Center for Studies of Women, 2003 - 2006
- Invited Lecture by Italian Studies Goggio Chair, University of Toronto, April 2005
- NEH Grant (Summer Institute), 2001
- Canadian Embassy Faculty Research Grant, 2001
- Connaught Fellowship for graduate work in Canada (most prestigious award at University of Toronto)
Stu Krieger, Assistant Professor
Theatre
- Humanitas Prize Nomination, Best Children's Program for "Going to the Mat", 2004
- Media Access Award, Best Children's Film for "Tru Confessions", 2002
- Best Mini-Series Emmy Award for "A Year in The Life" (co-writer), 1987
Judy Kronenfeld, Lecturer
Creative Writing
- Semi-finalist, Oneiros Press Broadside Contest, 2007
- Winner, The Litchfield Review Poetry Book Prize, "Light Lowering in Diminished Sevenths", 2007
- Nomination, Pushcart Prize, 2006
- Co-Winner, 1st Annual Poetry Contest, DA Center for the Arts, Pomona CA, 2002
- Nomination, Pushcart Prize, 2002
- Partial Scholarship, Squaw Valley Community of Writers, 1983
- University of California, Riverside, Non-Senate Academic Distinguished Researcher Award, 1996-1997
- Leverhulme Trust Fund Fellowship (for dissertation research at the Bodleian Library), 1968-69
- Fulbright Grant Awarded (declined in favor of the Leverhulme Fellowship), 1968
- Best Undergraduate Thesis in English, Smith College, 1964
- Phi Beta Kappa, Smith College, 1964
- Scholarships, Smith College, 1960-1964
Laila Lalami, Assistant Professor
Creative Writing
- Finalist, Oregon Book Awards, "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits", 2006
- "The Fanatic" (from Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits), short-listed for the Caine Prize for African Writing (the "African Booker"), 2006
- Finalist, John Gardner Fiction Prize, Binghamton University, "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits", 2006
- Fulbright Fellowship to Morocco, 2006-2007
- Fletcher Pratt Fellowship in Fiction, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, 2006
- Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship in Fiction, 2006
- British Council Graduate Fellowship, 1990-1991
Weiko Lin, Lecturer
Theatre
- Finalist, Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship, Academy of Motion Pictures and Arts, 2005
- Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award, 2001
- David C. Baumgarten Endowed Award (musical theater), 2001
- Edna and Yu Shan Han Award in Screenwriting, 2001
- Edna and Yu Shan Han Award in Screenwriting, 2000
- William J. and Lee Phillip Bell "Young and the Restless" Fellowship, 1999
Tom Lutz, Professor
Creative Writing
- American Book Award, "Doing Nothing", 2008
Keun-Pyo "Root" Park, Assistant Professor
Theatre
- Asiana International Short Film Festival, Seoul, Korea, "Starry Night", 2007
- Mise-en-scen Short Film Festival, Seoul, Korea, "Starry Night", 2007
- Jeonju International Film Festival, Jeonju, Korea, "Starry Night", 2007
- 1st Asian American Film Festival, Hong Kong, "Wake", 2007
- Asian American International Film Festival at NY, National Tour "Wake", 2006-2007
- Slamdance Film Festival, "Wake", 2006
- Munich International Film Festival, Munich, Germany, "Wake", 2006
- San Francisco Asian American Film Festival, "Wake", 2006
- CinemAsia Film Festival, Amsterdam, Nederland, "Wake", 2006
- Nominee for Best Short, Arhus Film Festival, Arhus, Denmark, 2006
- LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, "Wake", 2006
- Calgary Pan Asian Film Festival, Calgary, Canada, "Wake", 2006
- LA Korean American Film Festival, "Wake", 2006
- Crossroads Film Festival, "Wake", 2006
- Best Short Film, 2nd McGuffin Film Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Texas Filmmaker's Production Fund, Austin Film Society, "Starry Night", 2005
- 1st Place in College Narrative, Spindle top Film Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Best Student Voice, Jackson Hole Film Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Kodak Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at Cannes International Film Festival, Cannes, France, "Wake", 2005
- Special Jury Mention, Seoul Net Festival, Seoul, Korea, "Wake", 2005
- Best Student Narrative, Austin Film Festival, 2005
- Best Short Film/ 2nd Place Public Award, Lyon Asian Film Festival, Lyon, France, "Wake", 2005
- Texas Filmmakers Showcase, Huston Film Commission, "Wake", 2005
- Hollywood Showcase at DGA Theater, "Wake", 2005
- Palm Springs Film Festival of Shorts, "Wake", 2005
- Savannah Film Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Dallas Video Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Arizona International Film Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Newport International Film Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Hawaii International Film Festival, "Wake", 2005
- Grand Prize, Kodak Scholarship Award Competition, "Wake", 2004
- Heritage Award for Cinematographer, American Society of Cinematographers, "Wake", 2004
- CinemaTexas International Film Festival, "Mosquito Incense", 2003
- Austin Asian American Film Festival, "Mosquito Incense", 2003
- National Student Theater Festival at National Small Theatre, Seoul, Korea, "Klytaimestra", 1996
- National College Film Festival, Seoul, Korea, "Family Affair", 1995
Robin Russin, Associate Professor
Theatre
- 2nd Place winner, Award Winning Screenwriters Screenplay Contest 2009
- Finalist, Award Winning Screenwriters competition 2009
- Finalist, The Movie Deal! Screenwriting competition 2009
- Winner, Stage THIS! Ten-Minute Playwriting Competition, New York 2008
- Judge, 48 Hour Film Project 2008
- Judge, Hartley-Merrill International Screenwriting Prize 2006-2008
- "Best of Cafeplays," Ruskin Group Theatre, 2006, 2008
- Finalist, Northwest Film Forum Screenplay Competition 2006
- Honorable Mention, Writers on The Storm Screenwriting Competition 2006
- National Endowment for the Humanities Grant, Summer Institute in Venice, Italy, 2006
- First Prize, "Sharing Space V" juried exhibition; Lankershim Art Gallery 2005
- Finalist, ScriptPIMP screenplay competition 2004
- Judge, Hollywood Scarefest 2003
- Finalist, "Discovery" Directors Program, Chanticleer Films 1992, 1993
- Jack Nicholson Prize for excellence in screenwriting, 1990, 1991
- Elizabeth Greenshields Award for Sculpture 1983
- First Class Honours, Oxford University, 1981
- Corpus Christi College Book Award (Oxford University) 1980
- Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Summa at Harvard, 1979
- Rhodes Scholarship, 1979
- Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard Chapter 1979
- Harvard National Scholarship, 1975-1979
Maurya Simon, Professor
Creative Writing
- Poetry Prize, Elixir Press "The Raindrop's Gospel: The Trials of St. Jerome & St. Paula", 2009
- Nomination, Pushcart Prize, "Waste Management", 2008
- Poem "Waste Management" read on The Writer's Almanac, National Public Radio, hosted by Garrison Keillor, 2008
- Judge, PEN Center USA West Award in Poetry, 2007
- Poems "Angels" and "Enough" read on The Writer's Almanac, National Public Radio, hosted by Garrison Keillor, 2006
- Fellow, The Djerassi Resident Artists Program, 2005
- "St. Paula among the Marigolds," "St. Jerome's Secret Diaries," "A Letter from The Abbess Paula the Younger," and "The Vision," nominated for a Pushcart Prize XXIX: The Best of the Small Presses, 2005
- "St. Jerome's Casket" nominated for a Pushcart Prize XXVIII: The Best of the Small Presses, 2004
- Fellow, The MacDowell Colony, 2001 and 2003
- Visiting Artist/Scholar, The American Academy in Rome, 2002 and 2008
- Judge, Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, Modern Poetry Association, 2002
- Judge, The Kingsley and Kate Tufts Poetry Awards, 1998, 1999, and 2000
- University of California Faculty Exchange: Lund University, Sweden, 2000
- NEA Fellowship in Poetry, 1999-2000
- Fellow, Baltic Center for Writers & Translators, Visby, Sweden, 1997
- Fellow, Hawthornden Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1995
- Celia B. Wagner Award, Poetry Society of America, 1994
- Mary Caroline Davies Award, Poetry Society of America, 1993
- Fellow, Center for Ideas & Society, University of California, Riverside, 1993
- Fulbright/Indo-American Fellowship, 1990-1991
- Nominee, McArthur Fellowship, 1991
- Nominee, for Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, 1990
- Peregrine Smith Poetry Award, 1989
- Nominee, Lamont Prize, Academy of American Poets, 1989
- First Prize, Roberts Writing Award, 1989
- SCCA International Poetry Contest, 1987
- First Prize, Emerging Writer Award, 1987
- National Federation of State Poetry Societies, 1984
- University Award, Academy of American Poets, 1984
Susan Straight, Professor
Creative Writing
- Edgar Allan Poe Award, "The Golden Gopher", 2008
- Alumnus of the Year, Riverside Community College, 2008
- Lannan Literary Award, 2007
- O. Henry Prize for "El Ojo De Agua", 2007
- Finalist, Los Angeles Times Book Prize, 2006
- Distinguished Humanist Achievement Lecturer Award, UC Riverside, 1998
- Guggenheim Fellowship for distinguished individual achievement and exceptional promise
- The California Book Prize
- Gold Medal for Fiction, San Francisco-based Commonwealth Club
- Finalist, National Book Award
Charles Whitney, Professor
Creative Writing
- Editor, Critical Studies in Mass Communication, 1993-1997
- Former president, Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research
Andrew Winer, Assistant Professor
Creative Writing
- National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Prose, 2004
Dwight Yates, Lecturer
Creative Writing
- National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, 2008
- The Juniper Prize for Fiction, 2005
- National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, 1993
- Special Mention, Pushcart Prize, 1992
Haibo Yu, Associate Professor
Theatre
- Awarded one of the Best Designs for "Blood Wedding", National Design Expo, 2002
- Voted 5th People's Choice for "Whale", British National Exhibition, London, 1999
- Golden Triga at Prague Quadrennial (the highest award in the profession worldwide) for "John Brown's Body" (assistant designer), 1991
- British Council Scholarship, 1986