C u r r i c u l u m V i t a e
Kailah Figueroa-Johnson
E d u c a t i o n
2025 M.F.A in Creative Writing: Poetry
Rutgers University-Newark Newark, New Jersey
2023 Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, minors in English: Publishing & Editing
Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
2022 American College of the Mediterranean,
Aix-en-Provence, France
2021 Fulbright Fellowship
University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
F e l l o w s h i p s
2025 Book Prize Finalist, Center for African American Poetics and Poetry, (June 2025)
Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Poetry Scholar, (Aug 2025)
Poetry Scholar at Fine Arts Work Center Summer Workshops, (June 2025)
Cave Canem First Year Fellow & Retreat (June 2025)
2025 Just Buffalo Poetry Fellowship Finalist (April 2025)
Civil Society Fellowship at Vermont Studio Center (July 2024 – Aug 2024)
Fulbright Summer Institute Fellowship: Arts, Activism, and Social Justice, University of Bristol (June 2021 – July 2021)
P e d a g o g i c a l
E x p e r i e n c e
Instructor, Introduction to Creative Writing, Rutgers University-Newark (Spring 2024)
Instructor, Introduction to Creative Writing, Rutgers University-Newark (Fall 2024)
Instructor, Introduction to Creative Writing, Rutgers University-Newark (Spring 2025)
Teaching Assistant, Poetry Workshop, Susquehanna University (July 2022)
Teaching Assistant, Fiction Workshop, Susquehanna University (July 2021)
W o r k s h o p
E x p e r i e n c e
Poetry Workshop, Cameron Awkward-Rich, Fine Arts Work Center (June 2025)
Poetry Workshop, Harryette Mullen, Cave Canem (June 2025)
Poetry Workshop, Remicka Bingham-Risher, Cave Canem (June 2025)
Poetry Workshop, A. Van Jordan, Cave Canem (June 2025)
Poetry Workshop, Matthew Shenoda, Cave Canem (June 2025)
Poetry Workshop, Brenda Shaughnessy, Rutgers University (Fall 2023, Fall 2024)
Poetry Workshop, Renia White, Rutgers University (Spring 2025)
Poetry Workshop, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Rutgers University (Spring 2024)
Poetry Workshop, Karla Kelsey, Suquehanna University (Fall 2019, Fall 2021)
Fiction Workshop, Matthew Neill Null, Suquehanna University (Fall 2022)
Fiction Workshop, Catherine Dent, Susquehanna University (Spring 2021)
Fiction Workshop, Naomi Jackson, Rutgers University (Fall 2023)
Fiction Workshop, Eliza Minot, Rutgers University (Spring 2025)
Non-fiction Workshop, James Goodman, Rutgers University (Spring 2024)
E d i t o r i a l
E x p e r i e n c e
Poetry Reader, The Adroit Journal, (May 2025 - Present)
Senior Editor, Iskanchi Press & Magazine, (March 2023 – July 2023)
Founding Editor-in-Chief, Mid-heaven Magazine, (July 2019 - July 2023)
Poetry Juror, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Adjudication, (Dec 2021 - Jan 2022)
Copyright & Permissions Editor, Common Reading Program, Susquehanna University, (Aug 2021 – Dec 2022)
Intro and Bios Editor, Common Reading Program, Susquehanna University, (Aug 2020 – June 2021)
Communications Intern, Goucher College, Baltimore MD, (2019)
A r t s
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
E x p e r i e n c e
First-Year Reading Series Organizer and Co-host, Rutgers University-Newark (2024-2025)
Gallery Assistant, Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University (2019–2023)
Freelance Project Assistant, Leigh NY, (2021–2021)
National Director of Membership, Forum for Undergraduate Student Editors (2019–2023)
P u b l i c a t i o n s
4 poems — “The Gate”; “Paint Brush, or A Theory of Black Hair I”; “Paint Brush, or A Theory of Black Hair II”; “Paint Brush, or A Theory of Black Hair III,” LAMPBLACK (forthcoming 5th Anniversary Issue)
“The Bull Teaches Me Dawn,” PLOUGHSHARES (forthcoming winter 2025-2026)
“Clarity of Purpose,” WILDNESS JOURNAL (Issue 37)
“america, my ex-husband, won’t stop calling me,” BLACK WARRIOR REVIEW (Issue 51.1)
“When I Was a Boxer,” THE CINCINNATI REVIEW
2 poems — "Two Inlets in Winter"; "Our Names Are Not On the Mortgage but We Are Playing Homeowners For a Bit," PIGEON PAGES
“Alternate Holocene Where I Am The Maker (& you are still alive),” POETRY NORTHWEST (Winter/Spring 2024)
“After My Bipolar Diagnosis I Make Several Phone Calls & Everyone Says That Makes Sense,“ TORCH LITERARY ARTS (Friday Feature)
“In Defense of Staring at the Sun,” PERHAPPENED (Issue 3: Heatwave)
“somewhere on the edge of summer,” RIVERCRAFT MAGAZINE (2019 issue)
“The Mirror Explains Things To Me,” ANTI-HEROIN CHIC (Farewell Issue, 2019)
“june 4th, new york city,” HOMOLOGY LIT (Issue 3)
“My Lifetime of Empties,” LOLWE MAGAZINE
“good things grow here,” PASSENGERS JOURNAL (Vol.3 Issue 4)
“waiting room,” PROSE ONLINE
“Paul Henderson Exhibit Comes To The Library,” GOUCHER MAGAZINE
“we were first strangers“ IAU-AMC Closing Ceremony in Aix-en-Provence, France
“A Reminder” for Annual Holiday Greeting Card, Susquehanna University