Paul Muldoon, an acclaimed Irish poet and Pulitzer winner, will bring his expertise to Barnard beginning fall 2026. His course, “Advanced Poetry Writing,” will introduce inquisitive students to the craft of poetry and creative writing.
Muldoon, who spent more than 30 years at Princeton University, is eager to begin a new chapter at Barnard, where he will guide students in exploring creative writing — particularly, the art of the sonnet. Muldoon, who has received ten honorary degrees, is the author of 15 full-length poetry collections, along with works spanning song lyrics, criticism, and children’s literature. His honors include the T.S. Eliot Prize and the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, among many others.
“Barnard's Creative Writing Program could not be more thrilled to have Paul Muldoon leading one of our workshops. Our students will be in the hands of a gifted, dynamic teacher who also happens to be one of the world's most inventive and accomplished poets,” said Creative Writing Director Jhumpa Lahiri. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to study the sonnet with one of the English language's greatest practitioners.”
The course will be available to both Barnard and Columbia University students. Interested students were invited to submit three to four pages of poetry for consideration.
“The word I use for working with undergraduate students for me, is ‘blessing,’” said Muldoon. “It's a blessing to be able to be part of the development of a writer.”
Muldoon and his students will explore the most durable poetic form, studying the likes of Wordsworth, Elinor Wylie, Terrance Hayes, and more.
“What's fascinating about the sonnet is the amount of bang for the buck that it can muster,” Muldoon said. “The poem is quite short, but it can be extremely effective in presenting a sense of the world that feels much larger than the space it occupies.”
Throughout the course, students will also enjoy guest appearances from contemporary sonneteers.
The course will culminate in a celebratory student poetry reading at Book Culture at the end of the semester, offering participants the unparalleled opportunity to share their work with a public audience at a New York City bookstore.
“I’m looking forward to helping make Barnard a destination for creative writing,” said Muldoon.
Barnard, long known for producing authors, has helped cultivate and shape the careers of Ottessa Moshfegh ’02, Anna Quindlen ’74, Atoosa Rubenstein ’93 and more. Read more here: https://barnard.edu/for-the-media/press-kit/notable-alumnae.