James Thomas Stevens facts for kids
James Thomas Stevens (born 1966) is an American poet and teacher. He is a member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, an Indigenous group. Today, he teaches at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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About James Thomas Stevens
James Thomas Stevens was born in Niagara Falls, New York. His Mohawk name is Aronhió:ta's. His father had Welsh-American heritage, and his mother is Mohawk.
His Journey in Education
James Thomas Stevens has studied at several well-known schools. In 1993, he earned a special degree called an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in writing from Brown University. He received a full scholarship, which means his studies were paid for.
Before that, in 1990, he earned a Creative Writing AFA (Associate of Fine Arts) from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Here, he won the Gerald Red Elk Scholarship. This scholarship helped him attend a summer writing program at the Naropa Institute. He also briefly studied at the School of Visual Arts and Brooklyn College in New York.
A Career in Writing and Teaching
James Thomas Stevens has had a busy career as a teacher and a poet. He used to be a professor in the English Department at SUNY Fredonia. He also directed their American Indian Studies program.
He has taught poetry at Brown University and Haskell Indian Nations University. He is known for writing many books of poetry. His work has taken him around the world, with invitations to speak in countries like France, Turkey, and China. In 2006, he even spoke at the United Nations. He is an important part of the Native community and is seen as a leading young American Poet.
Awards and Recognitions
James Thomas Stevens has received many awards for his writing. These awards show how much his poetry is valued.
- 1991 Institute of American Indian Arts Creative Writing Award
- 1993 Kim Ann Arstark Memorial Prize in Poetry
- 1993 Wittner-Bynner Foundation Poetry Grant
- 1994 City of Santa Fe Writer's Award
- 1996 Pushcart Prize Nomination
- 2000 Whiting Award
- 2003 Nominated for a Before Columbus/American Book Award
- 2005 Finalist for the National Poetry Series Award
