BIO

DAVID MILLS

Mr. Mills holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College and an MA from New York University—both in creative writing—as well as a B.A. (cum laude) from Yale University. He’s published four poetry collections, including The Sudden Country, After Mistic, and Boneyarn, winner of the North American Book Award. His poems have appeared in Ploughshares, Colorado Review, Poetry Daily, Crab Orchard Review, Jubilat, Callaloo, Brooklyn Rail, Evergreen Review and Fence. He has received fellowships/grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts, Breadloaf, the Schomburg Center, New York State Council on the Arts, the American Antiquarian Society, Queens Council on the Arts, Flushing Town Hall and a Hughes/Diop fellowship. He lived in Langston Hughes’ landmark Harlem home for three years. The Juilliard School of Drama commissioned and produced Mr. Mills’ play The Serpent and the Dove. Urban Stages produced his play about Frederick Douglass: Freedom’s Trail. He worked as a teaching artist for the New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker Project and for Poets in Public Service. He wrote the audio script for MacArthur-Genius-Award Winner Deborah Willis’ curated exhibition, Reflections in Black: 100 Years of Black Photography, which showed at the Whitney and Getty Museums. He has also recorded his poetry on RCA Records and appeared on PBS and National Public Radio.

STUDENT FEEDBACK for DAVID

David Mills was one of the best teachers I have ever had. His presentation of the material was exemplary and learned. His treatment of his students was generous and compassionate. But most striking of all was the attention David paid to the writing his students generated in the course. I have never had a closer reading of my writing than that given by David. David’s class was truly a watershed moment in my writing life. —Elizabeth Eliades

David Mills’ warm, open style immediately put me at ease. His passion, enthusiasm and depth of knowledge of poetry—both its history and many forms and structures—sold me on my decision to take the plunge. The feedback given in writing is very detailed and more than I expected. The time and care he devotes to analyzing student work is remarkable! In fact, David himself is remarkable. —Linda Mancia

This class was enjoyable and educational. David Mills is a good teacher, knowledgeable and thorough in his instruction and feedback. I will not hesitate to take another class with David. —Ramona Howard

Thoroughly enjoyable and creatively-run class. David guided us through close readings of great works in the canon as well as lesser-known works, explained and illuminated the techniques used by these poets, then effectively showed us how to incorporate these methods into our own writing. Engaging and inspirational, with many takeaways. Definitely increased my confidence in the craft! —Kimberly Lee