We all know the Nonfiction Writing Program has a long history of community outreach. From the Buckley high school student visits each spring, to the community-centered master classes taught by NWP students each semester, community outreach and partnerships have long been part of the NWP’s DNA. It’s no surprise then that the NWP recently embarked on a new iteration of its long-time collaboration with the local Englert Theater in Iowa City to transform the annual Englert Nonfiction Fellowship into an annual teaching fellowship for MFA students. Grace Morse was the first recipient of this new version of the Fellowship.
As the inaugural Englert Nonfiction Teaching Fellow, Morse, NWP 2025, taught two courses for young community members, ultimately giving her students grounding in, and access to, the challenges and excitements of nonfiction writing. Graciously, Grace talked with us (over email) about her involvement in the project.
NWP: How would you describe the Englert Teaching Fellowship in Nonfiction, for those unfamiliar with it?
Grace Morse: The fellowship is this unique opportunity to explore the intersection of creativity, community, and pedagogy. With the Englert team as collaborators, the Nonfiction Fellow designs two courses for specific communities in Iowa City, especially those have been historically disenfranchised or otherwise experience opportunity gaps in connecting with the university’s writing courses/resources.

Inaugural Englert Nonfiction Teaching Fellow Grace Morse. Photo by C. Dooley, courtesy of the Englert Theatre.

Photo by C. Dooley.
NWP: As the inaugural teaching fellow, what were your expectations going into the fellowship, and how did your actual experience differ?
GM: Surprisingly to me, I didn’t have too many expectations. I was super curious about how the experience would be different from teaching at the university. The experience ultimately changed my relationship to teaching; I enjoyed working with middle school students, who were generous and eager to explore the genre. Most of all, learning about all the work it takes to facilitate an experience like this was incredible. I have so much respect for everyone at the Englert and I’m grateful for all their insights and wisdom!
NWP: Tell us about the two classes you taught for the community. I understand you taught middle schoolers. How did you approach teaching creative nonfiction to students of that age, and how did they respond?
GM: Approaching my Englert workshops was exciting and daunting. In my experience in the MFA, I only had one opportunity to take a class that investigated personal writing. As a memoirist and life writer, I wanted to make sure that form of nonfiction was highlighted in my workshops. Working with middle school students, we used our time to investigate how personal writing could be utilized for community empowerment through communal storytelling. I usually teach undergraduate students, but historically, my work with students in the community has been in the K-12 range. Creative nonfiction is an exciting genre, but there are so many ways where conversations about what CNF can be are intentionally made confusing or otherwise obfuscated. I loved getting to distill what I’ve learned in the NWP so I could introduce the genre to these students in an accessible, rigorous way.

Breaking down the elements. Photo by C. Dooley.
NWP: You’ll graduate from the Nonfiction Writing Program this spring. What’s next for you? How has your Englert Fellowship experience shaped your thoughts on what’s to come?
GM: I’m looking forward to my next steps post-graduation! I plan to move to a larger city and enter the arts administration space. The fellowship cemented my passion for making art accessible, and I would love to work at a similar institution to make that happen. I have applied for a Fulbright to Barcelona, and if that works out, I’ll be doing research, writing, and community engagement there!

A new generation of CNW writers, led by Englert Teaching Fellow Grace Morse (right). Photo by C. Dooley.
NWP: Finally, what did it mean to you to be part of the Englert community this year?
GM: I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. Through the fellowship’s many benefits, I experienced beautiful art (for free!) and learned from some amazing people. This experience resurrected my passion for working with young people, which had been muddied after working almost exclusively as a TA for the university. The Englert team is a perfect example of how diverse individuals with various skill sets and interests can collaborate to make incredible things happen and uplift their community in the process. As a writer, I leave this experience feeling excited about the space of nonfiction and the myriad of ways that personal narrative can be a catalyst for justice.

Students engrossed in a CNF prompt. Photo by C. Dooley.