Mark Kramer

Mark's Affiliations:  CEC Hill District, Homewood CEC, PittServes

Mark Kramer teaches courses in creative nonfiction, experiential learning, and civic engagement. A 2019 recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Public Service Award and a 2009 English Department Distinguished Teaching Award, Mark’s curriculum utilizes community engagement, service, and immersive activities to inspire real-world learning and critical thought.

Mark’s writing has appeared in Creative Nonfiction, Anthony Bourdain’s Explore Parts Unknown on CNN, CityLab (The Atlantic), PublicSource, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Pittsburgh Quarterly. His book Dispossessed: Life in Our World’s Urban Slums couples journalistic stories from informal communities in developing countries with sociological research. Of late, he’s been writing on urban nature, empathy, race, grief, economic development, and various social justice issues.

Mark studied fiction as an undergrad, journalism while earning a master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and creative nonfiction while completing an MFA here at Pitt. He's currently training to be a Master Naturalist.

Learn more about him and his work at www.mnkramer.com

Recent courses taught include: Writing for Change, Topics in Creative Writing: Socially Engaged Storytelling, Readings in Contemporary Nonfiction, Senior Seminar in Nonfiction, Service Learning in Bolivia, Service Learning on the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota Indian Reservation, and Seminar in Composition Service Learning.