Gwen Westerman

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Gwen Westerman

PhD
Occupationpoet, educator, and artist
Language Dakota, English
Nationality Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, Cherokee Nation, American [1]
Alma mater Oklahoma State University, BA and MA; University of Kansas, PhD [2]
Genrepoetry
Website
gwenwesterman.com

Gwen Nell Westerman [3] is a Native American educator, writer, and fiber artist.

Contents

She is a professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and the Director of the Native American Literature Symposium. [4] Governor Tim Walz appointed her as Poet Laureate of Minnesota in September 2021. [1]

Background

Westerman is Dakota and Cherokee. She is an enrolled citizen of both the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation and the Cherokee Nation. [1] She speaks the Dakota language. [5] Her mother was Cherokee, and Westerman grew up in Kansas. [6]

Education

Westerman earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Oklahoma State University. She received a doctoral degree in English from the University of Kansas. [2]

Teaching career

She is a professor of English and director of the humanities program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. [7]

Fiber arts

Westerman is a fiber artist who specializes in quilt-making. [2]

Awards

Publications

Books

Articles and chapters

Poetry

Art

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Davis, Angela; Beskstrom, Angela (October 15, 2021). "Meet Minnesota's new poet laureate Gwen Westerman". MPR News. Minneasota Public Radio. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Gwen Westerman, Ph.D." Minnesota State University, Mankato. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  3. "Gwen Nell Westerman Poems". Wisdom Ways. Archived from the original on 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  4. "About NALS". MNSU.ecu. The Native American Literature Symposium. Archived from the original on March 13, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  5. "Gwen Nell Westerman". Poetry Foundation. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  6. Moore, Jane Turpin (December 1, 1969). "Gwen Westerman, Minnesota's new poet laureate, is grounded in Mankato area". Mankato Free Press. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  7. "about". Gwen Westerman. Archived from the original on 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Gwen Westerman - Award Winning Faculty". mnsu.edu. College of Arts and Humanities, Minnesota State University, Mankato. 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  9. Hertzel, Laurie (March 7, 2014). "Hognander History and Kay Sexton awards winners announced". Star-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  10. "Native American Artist-in-Residence: Gwen Westerman". History Education MN. 2017-04-25. Archived from the original on January 19, 2020. Retrieved 2019-08-13.

Further reading