Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacquelyn Markham.
Hi Jacquelyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to the place I am today was not a straight line. It was not even a path at times, but I was propelled by a strong desire to create and learn. Everything–art, writing, research, and teaching–grew from that desire.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My wisdom tells me that very few, if any, roads are all smooth sailing! There’s always a storm, a bump, a flat tire, or an unexpected turn of events. My road was no different.
Although I earned my doctorate and graduated from Florida State University with teaching experience, and even landed an assistant professor position right out of FSU, balancing the academic life and the creative life was a huge challenge. If I let go of some of the institution in favor of more creativity, making a living became more of a struggle. Rarely, did the two–academic responsibilities and creativity–work in tandem to pave the way for my creative life and my income.
Some exceptions to the struggle to balance creative life and income existed. For example, when I created curriculum for Women’s Studies, I often had full creative control of creating the courses. I integrated art, media, writing, history, and women’s stories into these courses. When I had this kind of opportunity for several universities, both traditional and online, I was on the smooth road.
But, I had something to say and poetry to write. Poetry takes time and deep thought and meditation. I had to carve out some time to write the poems that would eventually be published and take me down the road of a life long love of poetry. For me, it’s a spiritual journey. I write in response to personal joy and sorrow. I write in response to war, environmental disaster, and the sheer awesomeness of the natural world. So, the road to creating poetry is not smooth, but it’s wide open and winding, often steep and slippery! Writing & publishing my latest chapbook, “Rainbow Warrior” (Finishing Line Press, 2023) took me on a winding path that seemed as if there was no end. In one aha moment, I saw the structure of the book and shortly after the book was accepted for publication. But, truly much of the work began more than 30 years ago.
Similarly, my more than two decades of research and editing culminated in a scholarly tome–“The Complete Poetry of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, 1884-1935: Together with Commentary and Notes” (Mellen Press, 2014). For this work, I earned the Adele Mellen Prize for Distinguished Contribution to Scholarship, but my, I lost a lot of sleep!
Why might these projects take so much time, one could ask? The answer lies partly in that struggle for balance between academia and creativity. But there is more, life’s twists and turns, health crises, relationships forming and dissolving, relocations for work and changes in society–many good, but always adjustments needed! Now, I’m working on my memoir that describes in more detail some of these struggles and how I met them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a creative, specifically, a writer—in a broad sense, that is, I write poetry, blogs, curriculum, journals, stories, essays and letters. I have a novel and a memoir in progress. Creativity is and has been a crucial part of my life since I can remember. I frequently shift from writing to painting and photography to music as the spirit moves me. Joy Harjo calls it “crop rotation.” If I am stuck or maybe only want to spark a new perspective, I may simply put colors and shapes on a canvas or piece of watercolor paper. The beauty of the colors and shapes that suggest an abstract painting will ignite something in my brain/mind/heart, inspiring me to move forward on something new. This desire or drive toward creativity keeps me inspired and perhaps helps to inspire others which is one of my strengths and contributed to a successful teaching career.
It’s difficult to say what I am the most proud of in a lifetime of work, but because it was so difficult to achieve and because I wanted it so much, earning my doctorate degree in creative writing was a proud moment!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Something else I would like to share is my long time interest in women’s spirituality. I have read widely the works of scholars and artists in the movement, from Marija Gimbutas (professor of European archeology) and artist Judy Chicago, creator of “The Dinner Party,” as well as feminist theologians like the late Carol P. Christ (“Diving Deep and Surfacing”). I have participated in the ceremonies of Luisah Teish, a Yoruban priestess, and Zsuzsanna Budapest, a founding mother of contemporary women’s spirituality. This reading and experience has added a great depth to my life and to the women’s studies courses and workshops I have designed and led over the years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jacquelynmarkham.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelyn-markham-phd-8950b713
- Other: https://www.pw.org/directory/writers/jacquelyn_markham
Image Credits
Nancy Bennett Evelyn, Jonathan Haupt, Kristy Wood
