Joey Connelly

Class of 2010

City/State of Residence: Owensboro, KY

Genre: Poetry

Joey Connelly earned his MFA from Ashland University in 2010 and is currently Assistant Professor of English at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Since leaving Ashland, Connelly's poetry has appeared in the Louisville Review, Medulla Review, Splinter Generation, New Plains Review, and other publications.

What initially drew you to Ashland's MFA Program? The cross-genre aspect.

What did you appreciate most? The relationships formed with my fellow students and faculty members.

How do you feel this program impacted you? It certainly made me a better writer, and through that, the program showed me in many ways who I am.

What do you feel was the greatest takeaway? I know I should say the confidence in my work, and while I value that a great deal, I know more than that are the friendships formed there.

What was the subject or theme of your thesis? A modern retelling of the Book of Jonah.

Finally, what are you up to now? Current occupation, or otherwise: I am Assistant Professor of English at Kentucky Wesleyan College, trying to inspire young writers in the way I was inspired. I earn my paycheck through Wesleyan, but my real work is submitting my manuscript, sifting through rejection letters, and submitting some more.

Feel free to contact Joey if you have any further questions about his experience in the Ashland University MFA Program: joeytconnelly@hotmail.com