When the first cohort of associate professors in the College of Arts and Science Writing Fellows gathered at Conley House in the fall of 2022, they arrived with years of academic experience, stacks of works in progress, and the challenge shared by many faculty: finding time to write.

Launched by André Ariew, professor of philosophy, and Christy Goldsmith, associate director of the Campus Writing Program, the program established a structured, yearlong model designed to cultivate sustainable writing habits.

Since its founding, the program has supported 46 faculty, many of whom have completed substantial scholarly projects that advanced their careers. 

For English professor Frances Dickey, one of the program’s early success stories, the Writing Fellows Program offered a productive and collegial environment that helped her move a long-developing book project forward. 

“The weekly meetings with colleagues in the humanities helped me compose and revise a book proposal and send it out to publishers,” she said. 

In August 2024, Dickey received a publishing commitment from Johns Hopkins University Press for Prelude in St. Louis: T. S. Eliot’s First City and used her course release in Fall 2024 to revise chapters in preparation for submitting the manuscript for final review in spring 2025. 

Dickey noted that the most important aspect of the program was building collegiality with peers and renewing a mutual sense of interest in each others’ work. 

“And, of course,” added Dickey, “André Ariew’s warm, supportive approach to facilitating our group provided the foundation for all the benefits that flowed from our meetings and interactions.”

Dickey’s successes reflect the program’s central goals: supporting faculty in starting or completing writing projects; fostering sustained writing practices; strengthening the scholarship of teaching and learning; and creating a community of practice that helps build a sense of belonging among faculty. 

The Writing Fellows Program has become a meaningful professional development opportunity — one that supports faculty advancement, enriches teaching and nurtures a community united by the shared work of writing.

"I would like to thank everyone in the program including its leaders, Christy Goldsmith and André Ariew, for their work in making the program a positive experience," said Michael Jirik, assistant professor of Black Studies and member of the fellowship’s 2024-’25 cohort, “The importance of the program cannot be overstated.”

As the college prepares for the 2026–27 cohort, the program will focus on writing for teaching pedagogy and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Eligible applicants for this year’s cohort must be ranked teaching faculty in the College of Arts and Science with interests in pedagogical innovation or teaching-related scholarship. Selection is based on project clarity, timeline feasibility and readiness to benefit from structured support. Christy Goldsmith will lead this year’s cohort as a fellow NTT faculty member.

Participants will meet for a four-week intensive writing period each June at the historic Conley House, followed by monthly check-ins throughout the academic year. Each cohort includes 10–12 faculty, all working toward a tangible writing outcome such as a pedagogical resource, an article-length essay, or even a book manuscript.

The program acknowledges the time and scholarly labor that writing entails. Participants who complete their writing goals will receive a $5,000 stipend, supported by gift funds dedicated to faculty development and by the Campus Writing Program.

A&S is committed to faculty writing through the Writing Fellows Program. The program will continue to evolve to meet the wide range of needs among faculty and to ensure access to resources and support.