M. Allen Cunningham
TEACHING (see also: Teaching Profile)
Current & Recent Teaching Work:
- UC Berkeley Academic Talent Development Program: Advanced Creative Writing
- Portland State University: Advanced Creative Writing, Intermediate Creative Writing, Interdisciplinary Creative Writing in Vienna, Austria
- Clackamas Community College: Courses in Writing and Film
I will be thinking about [Cunningham's] course for the rest of my writing life.
-Portland State University student, 2019
Photo by Diane Prokop
[Cunningham] communicates a seriousness about the craft of writing that I really respect. He is so organized at every stage. His preparedness got students engaged and on track before class even started. I wish all instructors followed his lead -- he helped us stay aware of and respectfully engaged with one another. Honestly, this course has been amazing. I've looked forward to the meetings each week.-Portland State University student, 2021 |
I don’t think I’ve ever learned so much in a writing class before. I felt pushed in new ways as a writer and never discouraged. -Portland State University student, 2019 Wonderful instructor. I've loved working with Prof. Cunningham, who is incredibly knowledgeable, warm, supportive, but tough in the right ways - and passionate about reading and writing. -Portland State University student, 2020 A really engaging and rewarding experience. I don't want it to end! This has been one of my absolute favorite courses and I won't forget it.-Portland State University student, 2021 [Cunningham's] wonderful course made quite an impact on me, maybe more than any other writing course or workshop I’ve been a part of. [Cunningham] is such an incredible teacher, so unabashedly enthusiastic about writing in all its forms. He really challenges his students to write outside of their comfort zone, to great effect. M. Allen Cunningham clearly empathizes with and respects writers and led each critique session with focus, kindness and a quiet determination to push each of us into a deeper understanding of our strengths and areas for improvement. -Participant, Atelier26 Creative Writing Workshop |
Author, editor, publisher, and frequent public speaker, M. Allen Cunningham is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Portland State University, where he teaches intermediate and advanced creative writing workshops and seminars and leads the summer creative writing intensive in Vienna, which he developed. As an English instructor for Clackamas Community College, Cunningham teaches courses in film appreciation and writing. His recent teaching also includes advanced creative writing for highly motivated young scholars in UC Berkeley's Academic Talent Development Program. In his 20 years of teaching, he has led MFA-level creative writing workshops and seminars in many settings, in addition to lecturing widely at several universities, conferences, and countless public libraries. During a four-year run as a public scholar with the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project, he facilitated intensive public seminars about reading and literature in 30 communities. In addition to his work at PSU, CCC, and Berkeley, Cunningham has designed and taught the Atelier26 Creative Writing Workshops, designed and taught new courses at Portland's honored nonprofit Literary Arts, and served in the Pan-European MFA Program as a guest lecturer and thesis advisor.
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and non-PSU students alike!
2022 Participants Say:
"A life-changing experience." "A vigorous voyage of imagination." |
Recent Guest Lectures by M. Allen Cunningham:
Catamaran Writing Conference (Pebble Beach CA)
Character, Plot, Time
Portland State University Write to Publish Conference (Portland, OR)
Six Ways to Think About Character
Pan-European MFA Program (webinar)
Writing Beyond Genre
International House (Barcelona, Spain)
Depictions of Time in Literature
Character, Plot, Time
Portland State University Write to Publish Conference (Portland, OR)
Six Ways to Think About Character
Pan-European MFA Program (webinar)
Writing Beyond Genre
International House (Barcelona, Spain)
Depictions of Time in Literature