40th Anniversary Alumni Celebration
November 5-6, 2026
The CSU MFA in Creative Writing is turning 40, and we’re throwing a party!
Please join us in Fort Collins as we recognize our program’s history, past and current faculty, alumni publications, and more, while sharing our vision for the future of creative writing at CSU—including continued support for graduate students and the Creative Writing Reading Series.
All alumni, students, faculty, emeriti, and friends of CSU Creative Writing are welcome!
Alumni Survey
Tell us what you’ve been up to! We’d love to learn about your career path, recent publications, and how your degree has made a positive impact on your artistic and professional life.
Our two-day anniversary celebration will feature a slate of special events:
Writers Harvest Reading
Thursday, Nov. 5, 7-9 p.m.
Lory Student Center, Never No Summer Room
Come support Creative Writing’s food scarcity initiative, The Writers Harvest, and hear inspiring work from some of the “founders” of our MFA program: Mary Crow, Steven Schwartz, Deanna Ludwin, Bill Tremblay, and John Calderazzo.
Cocktail Party & Program Spotlight
Friday, Nov. 6, 5-9 p.m.
Agave Room, Rio Grande Restaurant
Join alumni for a cocktail party in the Agave Room at the venerable Rio Grande Restaurant in Old Town, featuring a celebration of the program and its accomplishments.
After-Party
Friday, Nov. 6, 9 p.m. – ??
Location TBA
Stop by an after-party at a local alumni residence to close out the festivities!
Transportation & Lodging
Flying to make the celebration? For those traveling to Colorado by air, Denver International Airport is the closest major airport to Fort Collins. Colorado State University is about 65 miles north of the airport, and there are several options for transportation following your flight.
- DIA houses about a dozen car rental agencies.
- Shuttles between the airport and Fort Collins can be arranged with Groome Transportation or SuperShuttle.
For those staying overnight in Fort Collins, we’ve reserved a block of rooms at three local hotels, close to campus and Old Town:
- The Hilton – Fort Collins: Use this link to reserve your room at a special discounted rate.
- The Armstrong Hotel
- The Buxton Hotel (newly renovated, formerly the campus-area Best Western)
Questions?
If you have questions about the celebration, please contact Professor Matthew Cooperman for assistance. Thank you!
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Matthew Cooperman
- Professor of English
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Give a Gift
The Creative Writing Reading Series fosters community engagement and brings together the local literary scene in Fort Collins and at CSU in celebration of distinguished writers and poets. Support for the CWRS helps increase visibility of creative artistry, amplify the reputation of CSU’s M.F.A. in Creative Writing program, and provide essential funding for outstanding graduate students, as well as, visiting authors.
