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Catalina B

- Research Program Mentor

MFA at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Expertise

creative writing, literature, fiction, narrative, multimedia, creative nonfiction

Bio

I am a writer and educator mostly from Illinois. I earned a BFA in Writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from the Helen Zell Writer’s Program. Previously I taught English in Spain and most recently taught Creative Writing at the University of Michigan. In my writing I often explore questions of language, storytelling, familial histories, and lineage. I am currently at work on a novel that follows two generations of sisters as they explore what it means to be mothers and daughters in the face of illness Other things that excite me include cooking and hiking. I love thinking through ideas and look forward to hearing more about your interests and passion projects!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Stories! Essays! & Poems! Oh My!

Sometimes we have a spark in the shower, in the middle of the night, while we’re brushing our teeth. We turn off the water or turn on the light and look for that pen to jot it down before the spark goes. But what happens with these scattered notes? How do we write these half-formed thoughts into life? Writing is a process. Writing is the blank page. It is the reading. The research. The generating. The conversations. The many drafts. Sometimes it is more questions than answers; sometimes you answer a question and it brings you to another question. Whether it’s a poetry collection about your grandmother or a novel about Turtle Tom from Troll Hollow or a braided essay about birds and migration, together we can navigate the stumping halts and delightful surprises you encounter throughout your writing project.

Languages I know

Spanish

Teaching experience

I have previously taught children's art workshops, mentored high school art students, taught English in Spain, and taught college writing and creative writing at the University of Michigan.

Credentials

Work experience

University of Michigan (2019 - Current)
Instructor
Fulbright (2018 - 2019)
English Teaching Assistant
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2018 - 2018)
Instructor

Education

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts (2018)
Creative Writing
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
MFA Master of Fine Arts
Fiction

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