Carol Spaulding-Kruse

Biography

I came to Drake in 1996, after earning my Ph.D. in English from the University of Iowa. I write fiction and non-fiction under the pen Carol Roh Spaulding, which blends my Korean and European heritage.

I’m the author of Waiting For Mr. Kim and Other Stories, which won the Flannery O’Conner Award for Short Fiction from University of Georgia Press (2023) and Helen Button, a novel, which won the Eludia Award for women writers over 40, from Hidden River Arts (2024). You can find out more about my work at www.carolrohspaulding.com.

At Drake, I teach courses in the short story and the essay, both of which involve learning to read closely with an eye to craft. I have also taught advanced writing courses in narrative theory, stylistics, and social justice. Recent areas of interest include community writing, in which students collaborate with area non-profit groups to produce outputs like web pages, podcasts and edited collections that support awareness and advocacy on social issues; and yoga/writing, with a focus on writing situated in stillness and the body.

I enjoy working with advanced writing students pursuing independent projects or graduate study in creative writing; serving as editorial advisor for student publications; and creating writing opportunities for students outside the traditional classroom setting through community internships.