Helena Mesa
Associate Professor of English
Education
- B.A., Indiana University
- M.F.A. University of Maryland
- Ph.D. University of Houston
Courses
- Introductory Creative Writing
- Advanced Creative Writing (Poetry)
- Creative Writing Workshop (Poetry)
- Visual Poetry
- Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
- Latina/o Literature
- Composition
Publications
A collection of poems, Horse Dance Underwater. She is also co-editor of Mentor and Muse: Essays from Poets to Poets. Her poems have appeared in literary journals such as Indiana Review, Third Coast, Pleiades, and Barrow Street. She is currently at work on a new collection of poems.
Awards
- Literary Honors and Awards
Nomination for the Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses, “A Question on Symbolism” (2025)
Finalist, Akron Poetry Prize (2022)
Finalist, Milkweed’s Ballard Spahr Prize for Poetry (2022)
Finalist, Poetry Society of America’s George Bogin Memorial Award (2020)
Honorable Mention, Sarabande Book’s Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry (2019)
Nomination for the Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses, “To the Stranger Up North” (2018)
Albion College English Department, Charles Crupi Memorial Society (2015)
Semi-Finalist, “Discovery” / The Nation award (2007)
Semi-Finalist, Elixir Press Poetry Award (2007)
Nomination for the Pushcart Prize XXVIII: Best of the Small Presses for “Returning to the
National Gallery of Art to See Rue de Moulins” (2001) - Writing Residencies
Poetry Participant, Napa Valley Writers’ Conference (2017)
Poetry Participant, Community of Writers (2016)
Fellow, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (2016, 2014, 2013)
Artist in Residence, University Musical Society—Ann Arbor, Michigan (2015–2016)
Fellow, The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences (2015)
Fellow, Writers in the Heartland residency—Crescent City, Illinois (2010) - Albion College
Grant recipient, Hewlett-Mellon Fund for Faculty Development (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020,
2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2009)
Albion College Arthur Anderson New Teacher of the Year Award (2005)
Albion College Campus Programs and Organizations’ Outstanding Student Organization Advisor
of the Year for Albion Review (2005) - Graduate School
Stella Ehrhardt Memorial Fellowship, University of Houston (1997–98)
Graduate School Fellowship, University of Maryland (1995–96)