Adrienne Christian

Dr. Adrienne Christian is a poet, writer, professor, and photographer. Her poetry books include Worn (2021, Santa Fe Writer's Project) and A Proper Lover (2017, Main Street Rag). Worn was one of The Rumpus’ Most Anticipated Books of 2021. Her poetry, prose, and photographs have appeared in Prairie Schooner, Hayden’s Ferry Review, CALYX, BUST, phoebe, No Tokens, World Literature Today, American Life in Poetry, Today’s Black Woman, African Vibes, the Los Angeles Review as the Editor’s Choice, Next Avenue, and more. 

She is a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. Her poem, Wedding Dress, received the 2021 Common Ground Review Poetry Award. In 2016, she was nominated for the Rita Dove International Poetry Award. In 2007, she won the University of Michigan’s Five Under Ten Young Alumni Award. 

Adrienne is a fellow of the Cave Canem, Furious Flower, and Callaloo writing residencies. She has served as editor or jury member for literary prizes including the Lucille Clifton Poetry Prize, the Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest, the Cave Canem Starshine and Clay Fellowship, and the Nebraska Poetry Society Poetry Award. She is also Associate Editor at Backbone Press. 

Adrienne has been featured on panels by Ms. Magazine and the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. She holds a BA from the University of Michigan, an MFA from Pacific University, and a PhD from the University of Nebraska. She teaches in the Low-Residency MFA Program at Pacific University. 

When Adrienne is not working, she is photographing the world. She has visited all 50 US states, all seven continents, and 65 of the world’s countries/territories. Read all about her adventures and see her travel photography at adriennechristian.substack.com. Though she was born and raised in Michigan, Adrienne now lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband.