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Shastri Akella is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Michigan State University. His debut novel, 'The Sea Elephants', published by Flatiron Books in the USA and Canada, and Penguin in India, showcases his skill in narrative creation. He has been a writing resident at the Fine Arts Works Center (2021) and the Oak Springs Garden Foundation (2023). Akella has won several accolades, including the 2022 FracturedLit Flash Fiction Contest and the 2023 Microfiction Contest. His writing has appeared in notable literary platforms such as Guernica, Fairy Tale Review, CRAFT, Masters Review, Electric Literature, and World Literature Review. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. With over 12 years of teaching experience across high school and undergraduate levels, his areas of expertise include creative writing, contemporary world literature, and world genre film. He has taught at prestigious institutions, including Bryant University and Deerfield Academy. In 2016, he received the Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing his excellence in education.
Department of Psychology