October 25, 2007

La Sierra University’s creative writing emphasis this year will take new directions with the addition of Sari Fordham to the English and Communication department faculty.

Fordham comes to Riverside from the East Coast where she has been studying for several years and recently graduated in June from the University of Minnesota with a MFA in Creative Writing. She earned a BA in History from Southern Adventist University in 1998 and then received an MA in English in 2001 from Iowa State University.

At the same time she was pursuing her education, she also built up her teaching resume. While in each of the Master’s programs, Fordham worked as a teacher’s assistant. Over the summer, she continued her teaching career with a humor writing class in Indianapolis.

Though she only recently moved to Riverside due to her summer teaching duties, Fordham has already began enjoying the arboretum of LSU’s campus.
“It’s a beautiful campus,” Fordham says, “I’ve welcomed the green grass especially.”

Fordham is planning to teach Pre-foundational English courses during her first term on campus. She anticipates channeling her enthusiasm for reading into this course as it sets as the foundation for writing. After the fall quarter, Fordham will continue teaching the Pre-foundational courses, but will add a course in her specialty, creative writing. “My biggest goal is to help support the English and Communication department’s creative writing program,” says Fordham, “There has been student interest and I want to support that.” In addition, she is exploring options in beginning reading groups for students.

Fordham has been a monthly columnist for the Adventist Review for four years. She has also written for Signs of the Times, Adventist Today, Insight Magazine, Guide Magazine, Primary Treasure, Our Little Friend, and the Women's Daily Devotional book published by the Review and Herald Publishing Association. In addition, she has been published in "Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction" and has written one script for "The Writer’s Almanac" read by Garrison Keillor.

As personal expressions of her interests in reading and creative writing, Fordham will also continue work on her memoir this year. The project will recount Fordham’s experiences growing up in Uganda under Idi Amin and details a childhood spent in a place that is not quite her home. Research of Ugandan history and landscape is required for the book and Fordham is hoping to have it completed by next summer with intentions to publish.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)