Professor Joel Brouwer

English Chairperson Named UA Associate Provost 

Professor Joel Brouwer
Joel Brouwer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — The chair of The University of Alabama English department has been named a UA associate provost.

Joel Brouwer, a UA professor of English who has served at the University since 2002, was named associate provost for faculty affairs, effective Sept 1, said Dr. Kevin Whitaker, UA executive vice president and provost.

“Joel brings to the position a wealth of academic and administrative experience,” said Whitaker. “His leadership qualities and work ethic will serve the University well.”

Prior to joining UA, Brouwer taught at the University of Wisconsin and elsewhere. First named a visiting professor at UA in 2000, he later returned to the University as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2005 and professor in 2010.

He directed UA’s nationally ranked Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing from 2008-2011 and has chaired the English department since 2014. In addition to his administrative duties, Brouwer taught graduate and undergraduate courses in creative writing and criticism.

A 1990 graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Brouwer earned his Master of Arts in creative writing and English literature from Syracuse University in 1993. He has held fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.

He has authored four award-winning books of poetry, and his poems, essays and reviews have appeared in numerous publications.

Brouwer fills a role previously held by Dr. Jennifer Greer, who recently resigned.

He received UA’s 2012 Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award, one of the highest honors UA bestows upon its faculty.

Contact

Chris Bryant, UA communications, 205-348-8323, chris.bryant@ua.edu