Curtis L. Crisler

Curtis L. Crisler was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. He received a BA in English with a minor in theater from Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne and an MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Crisler is the author of numerous poetry collections, including THe GReY aLBuM [PoeMS] (Steel Toe Books, 2018), winner of the Steel Toe Books Open Reading Period Prize; Don’t Moan So Much (Stevie): A Poetry Musiquarium (Kattywompus Press, 2016); “This” Ameri-can-ah (Cherry Castle Publishing, 2015); Pulling Scabs (Willow Books/Aquarius Press, 2009), which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize; Black Achilles (Accents Publishing, 2015); Wonderkind (Aquarius Press/Willow Books), which was also nominated for a Pushcart Prize; Soundtrack to Latchkey Boy (Finishing Line Press, 2012); and Spill (Keyhole Press, 2008), which won a Keyhole Chapbook Award. 

Crisler is the recipient of fellowships and residencies from the City of Asylum in Pittsburgh, Cave Canem, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), among others. In addition to numerous prizes, including the RHINO Poetry Founder’s Prize, he was also nominated for the Eliot Rosewater Book Award (Rosie Award), and a Jessie Redmon Fauset Book Award.

A professor of English at his alma mater, Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne, Crisler was appointed poet laureate of Indiana in 2024.