Skip to main content

Whiting Award Winner Lydia Peelle Joins SNHU MFA Faculty

Southern New Hampshire University's MFA writing program gains heightened national recognition and prestige with its newest faculty member, Lydia Peelle, 2010 Whiting Award recipient. According to the Whiting Foundation, "These awards, of $50,000 each, are given annually to ten writers — poets, playwrights and fiction and nonfiction writers — of exceptional talent and promise in early career." Peelle's first published short story, "Mule Killers," won an O. Henry Award in 2006.

Since then her stories have been awarded two Pushcart Prizes and twice been featured in Best New American Voices. Her debut story collection, "Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing,” was a New York Times Editors' Choice book, a finalist for the Orion Book Award, and received an honorable mention for the 2010 PEN/Hemingway Award.

A 2009 National Book Foundation "5 under 35", Peelle has received fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the Corporation of Yaddo, the Ragdale Foundation, and the Ucross Foundation. Peelle is currently at work on a novel set in Tennessee during World War One.

The Director of SNHU's MFA program, Diane Les Becquets, was first introduced to Peelle’s writing through a fellow faculty member, John Searles. "Each passage of each story gripped me with a yearning so deep and real, so vivid and felt as if I was living and reliving each moment these words captured," Les Becquets said. "Quickly this author became one of my favorites."

Peele said she is "excited to be joining the faculty of Southern New Hampshire University's MFA program. It's a fantastic community and I look forward to the opportunity to help students find their way along their own personal writing paths," Peelle said.

Visit the low-residency MFA degree program to learn more, or explore the online MFA program.

Explore more content like this article

An illustration of a smiling woman with long curly hair wearing glasses, holding an open book against a yellow background.

10 Short Story Tips From a Dean of Creative Writing

Stories matter, offering insight into what it means to be human. But short stories can be a challenge for many writers, as they require brevity and efficiency. A dean of creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offered 10 tips to help you master this medium.
A quill and notebook sitting atop a map on weathered desk, surrounded by antique looking objects.

Why Do People Like the Horror Genre?

From the macabre stories of Edgar Allen Poe to Jordan Peele's award-winning filmography, the horror genre has a long history of evoking jump scares and nightmares from audiences. Yet despite the genre’s enduring popularity, horror is often misunderstood and dismissed by outsiders.
A student in a red sweater using a laptop, pen and notebook to brainstorm what she can do with a master's in English.

What Can You Do With a Master’s in English?

Earning a bachelor’s degree is a major milestone — but what comes next? If you're looking to stand out in a competitive job market or qualify for a more specialized role, a graduate degree might be the right move. One path worth considering is a master’s in English.

About Southern New Hampshire University

Two students walking in front of Monadnock Hall

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs. Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.