: UCM News
Kevin Prufer recognized for contributions to literature and students' lives
Mar 24, 2008, 22:20
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Professor Kevin Prufer, a University of Central Missouri faculty member who has gained national acclaim in the world of literature, has been named recipient of the Byler Distinguished Faculty Award in a public ceremony planned from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in the Elliott Union Charno Room.
The Byler Distinguished Faculty Award is named after William H. Byler, an inventor, author and teacher who graduated from UCM in 1927 with a major in chemistry and physics. He established an endowment fund to provide annual recognition for distinguished faculty performance, evidenced by teaching, scholarly or creative activity and professional related service.
Prufer has taught courses in the Department of English and Philosophy since 1996 and currently serves as coordinator of the department’s Creative Writing Program. He is an award-winning poet and editor of the internationally known publication, "Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing," in addition to serving as one of two faculty advisors on the student literary/art magazine, "Arcade," and faculty advisor to the Creative Writing Club.
“It’s a real honor to receive the award,” Prufer said of his Byler recognition. “I’ve been working hard to promote 'Pleiades' and literature in Warrensburg and beyond, and it’s great to be recognized.”
Through their nomination and support letters, Prufer’s colleagues praise his efforts to nurture student writing and achievement, and his staunch support of other writers both on and off campus. They credit his leadership and skill as an editor in transforming "Pleiades" into one of the best literary magazines in the country. From a small distribution of about 250 copies, this collection of poetry, fiction, essays and reviews is now found in bookstores in every major city in the nation, now garnering submissions from Pulitzer Prize winners who hope to share their work with the journal’s growing international readership. Since 2000 five works in "Pleiades" have received the prestigious Pushcart/Best of American Small Press award and Prufer has won an additional three Pushcart awards for his own writing published in other magazines.
In her letter of support, Cheryl Eason, chair of the Department of English and Philosophy, notes that Prufer’s “tireless service to and promotion of our department and our university are not something money can buy.” In fact, she believes he has helped put Warrensburg and the university on the map.
“Other creative writers in our department have come back from national writers and book critics’ conferences and reported that others in attendance become very interested in talking with them when they learn they are from Warrensburg. ‘Warrensburg, that’s the little town with the writers. What’s going on there? What’s the draw? The draw has been and continues to be Kevin Prufer,” she insists.
The Byler Distinguished Faculty Award is named after William H. Byler, an inventor, author and teacher who graduated from UCM in 1927 with a major in chemistry and physics. He established an endowment fund to provide annual recognition for distinguished faculty performance, evidenced by teaching, scholarly or creative activity and professional related service.
Prufer has taught courses in the Department of English and Philosophy since 1996 and currently serves as coordinator of the department’s Creative Writing Program. He is an award-winning poet and editor of the internationally known publication, "Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing," in addition to serving as one of two faculty advisors on the student literary/art magazine, "Arcade," and faculty advisor to the Creative Writing Club.
“It’s a real honor to receive the award,” Prufer said of his Byler recognition. “I’ve been working hard to promote 'Pleiades' and literature in Warrensburg and beyond, and it’s great to be recognized.”
Through their nomination and support letters, Prufer’s colleagues praise his efforts to nurture student writing and achievement, and his staunch support of other writers both on and off campus. They credit his leadership and skill as an editor in transforming "Pleiades" into one of the best literary magazines in the country. From a small distribution of about 250 copies, this collection of poetry, fiction, essays and reviews is now found in bookstores in every major city in the nation, now garnering submissions from Pulitzer Prize winners who hope to share their work with the journal’s growing international readership. Since 2000 five works in "Pleiades" have received the prestigious Pushcart/Best of American Small Press award and Prufer has won an additional three Pushcart awards for his own writing published in other magazines.
In her letter of support, Cheryl Eason, chair of the Department of English and Philosophy, notes that Prufer’s “tireless service to and promotion of our department and our university are not something money can buy.” In fact, she believes he has helped put Warrensburg and the university on the map.
“Other creative writers in our department have come back from national writers and book critics’ conferences and reported that others in attendance become very interested in talking with them when they learn they are from Warrensburg. ‘Warrensburg, that’s the little town with the writers. What’s going on there? What’s the draw? The draw has been and continues to be Kevin Prufer,” she insists.
