Honors and Awards

Donald J. Sterling, Jr., Senior Research Fellowship in Pacific Northwest History, Oregon Historical Society, 2022

Kilian McDonnell Fellowship in Faith and Culture, Collegeville Institute, St. John’s University, MN, Spring 2019

Resident Writer, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, Fall 2018

Notable Essay (“The Story Catcher”), Best American Essays 2018

John Eliot Allen Outstanding Teacher Award, English Department, Portland State University, 2002-2003, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2016-17

Contemporary Authors, vol. 400, Gale Group, 2017

Lenna Endowed Visiting Professorship, St. Bonaventure University, NY, Spring 2017

Finalist, Biography/Memoir, Washington State Book Awards, 2016

Finalist, Religion Nonfiction Book Award, Religion News Association, 2016

Honorable Mention, Biography Book Award, Catholic Press Association, 2016

Excellence in Publishing Award, Biography, Association of Catholic Publishers, 2016

Selected Book, AAUP University Press Books for Public and Secondary Libraries, 2016 (one of only two biographies and 10 nonfiction books in American Literature)

Special Mention (“A Gyroscope on the Island of Love”), Pushcart Prize 2013

Notable Essay (“A Gyroscope on the Island of Love”), Best American Essays 2013

Artist of the Month, Image literary journal, March 2012

Resident Scholar, Collegeville Institute, St. John’s University, MN, Fall 2011

Leslie Bradshaw Fellowship in Nonfiction Writing, Oregon Literary Arts, 2010

Walden Residency Fellowship, Southern Oregon University, 2001

Literary Award Grant, Illinois Arts Council, 2000

Daniel Curley Award for Best Short Fiction, Illinois Arts Council, 2000

Who’s Who In America, Who’s Who in American Education, Dictionary of American Scholars