Sue Brannan Walker, (born 1940) is a poet, author and editor.
In 2015 she is the Stokes Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at the
University of South Alabama. She is a former Poet Laureate of
Alabama
Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
["Is Poetry Dead? Not if 45 Official Laureates Are Any Indication"]
''International New York Times'', By JENNIFER SCHUESSLER JULY 27, 2014
Early life and education
Walker studied at the
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...
, earning a B.S. She then earned an MEd, M.A. and PhD at
Tulane University
The Tulane University of Louisiana (commonly referred to as Tulane University) is a private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by a cohort of medical doctors, it b ...
.
Career
Walker worked as an assistant professor in the English department at the
University of South Alabama in 1980. She founded the literary journal ''
Negative capability'' in 1981 and served as its editor.
Walker became an associate professor at the University of South Alabama in 1985 and a full professor in 1991. In 1999 she chaired the department, and 2007 was named Stokes Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing.
From 2003 to 2012, Walker served as the poet laureate of Alabama.
She is the author of five poetry collections.
Negative Capability Press
Walker created ''Negative Capability Press'', a small press publishing house which is based in Mobile, Alabama.
The company has published more than 40 books, many by nationally recognized authors and poets. A number of these were collections for which Walker served as editor, including ''Ways of Knowing: Essays on Marge Piercy'' in 1991, ''Life on the Line: Selections on Words and Healing'' in 1992, and ''Whatever Remembers Us: An Anthology of Alabama Poetry'' in 2007. Several of the books have received notable recognition: Irene Latham's ''What Came Before'' (2007) won the Independent Book Award in Poetry in 2007 and John Davis Jr.'s work was included in the 2015 Poetry House exhibit in New York City. The publisher sponsors an annual international book contest; the prize in 2015 was $2000 and a publishing contract.
As 2012, Walker continued to head up the organization.
References
"Alexis Saunders, social worker, poet, researcher, dies at 34"
''Tampa Bay Times'', By Marty Clear March 11, 2010
External links
*
Interview at Silverblade
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Sue Brannan
1940 births
Living people
Tulane University alumni
University of Alabama alumni
University of South Alabama faculty
21st-century American poets
Poets laureate of Alabama