Mississippi State faculty member Christie Collins’ new co-edited anthology features essays by 17 authors and educators living with disabilities, chronic illnesses and neurodivergence, helping address a longstanding gap in creative writing scholarship. Collins, an English department lecturer, and co-editor Saul Lemerond, an assistant professor of English at Hanover College in Indiana, have compiled “Divergent Writers: Disability, Illness, Neurodivergence, and Ableism in Creative Writing.” Released this spring by Bloomsbury Publishing, the collection brings together contributors from five countries who share firsthand experiences navigating ableism and bias in the creative writing profession.

“Mississippi State University provided me the academic tools and experiences I needed to be accepted into and thrive in medical school,” said physician Fred Corley, a 1968 Mississippi State graduate and current San Antonio resident. “These included disciplines, time management, and lots of encouragement from my professors to have a stimulated and inquisitive mind.”

“One of the highlights of my time at Mississippi State University was being a part of Music Maker Productions (MMP). Performing concerts in The Hump and at 5 Points was an incredible experience,” said 1989 communication graduate and College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Executive Advisory Board Member Angela Hammack.