More than 100 staff members work in the Division of the Humanities. We’ll introduce you to our staff in this continuing series.

Michael Fischer
Senior Program Manager
Creative Writing Program

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy being around creative writers, whether it is visiting authors or our faculty. Our group of faculty differs from most academic departments. While we certainly have our share of folks with PhDs and traditional academic backgrounds, writing is a hustle. That means we also have folks whose last job before teaching was waiting tables. I like that dynamic.

What was the last good book you read?

I read a ton and have awful reading comprehension, so even a good book often doesn’t stay with me for long. But the last awesome book I remember reading was Heavy by Kiese Laymon. Kiese is a genius, with a MacArthur Fellowship to prove it. His memoir is the one book I recommend to people regardless of their interests and feel confident they’ll like it.

You might work with me if …

Your curricular programming intersects with the Creative Writing Program's courses or faculty, you would like our financial or promotional support for events, you want to use Taft House for any reason, or you have something for our newsletter.

If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be? Why?

Woodworking. I would love to work with my hands and have something tangible to show for my labor, instead of just a bunch of emails and digital files. I think it would be meditative. And it would allow me to exist inside of a housebuilding/restoration montage, like Ryan Gosling when he restored that old falling-down house in The Notebook.