Dr. Patrick Hicks
Assistant Professor of English
B.A. Saint John's University
M.A. DePaul University
M.A. Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ph.D. University of Sussex, England

Please share a little about your past.
I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota, and from an early age I knew that I wanted to be a writer, I knew that I wanted to surround myself with words. Being a professor of Creative Writing and Irish Literature wraps me in words and my career path has allowed me to live in Northern Ireland, England, Germany, and Spain.

So your fascination with words led you to study English?
I'm in love with words. For me, it's miraculous that words can be used to transfer ideas from one mind to another with such ease and grace. I guess you could say that I'm in love with stories too. I'm continually amazed by the fact that words can connect people across countries, cultures, and even across centuries. When I read Shakespeare or Joyce, I suppose you could say that I'm communicating with the dead. To have voices from the past rise up from a book... well, that's just magical to me.

How did your life's path lead you to Augustana? Why do you stay?
Dumb luck, really. I count myself very fortunate to be a part of Augustana. It's a special community of scholars and I'm routinely impressed with the caliber of students that choose to call this place home. My colleagues genuinely care for their students, and it's that care which makes me excited about coming to work everyday. Lives are changed on a daily basis at Augustana.

Augustana is a liberal arts college. In your opinion, what are the benefits of a liberal arts education?
I have strong feelings about the importance of a liberal arts education because it fosters intellectual curiosity. By engaging in the liberal arts you are casting a wide net of knowledge and, in return, you are able to make connections that you would not otherwise see. Let me give you an example: I taught at a university in England for awhile and even though the students were very good they were not nudged towards the Natural Sciences or the Social Sciences. In England, it is possible to study only your major, but I always felt that this limited the imagination of my students. I can honestly say that the education you receive at a liberal arts institution like Augustana College is far superior to that you would receive at Oxford or Cambridge. A place like Augustana invites students into intellectual arenas they might not otherwise go. A liberal arts education tugs you towards the unfamiliar and it encourages exploration.

You have been published several times. What type of writing do you most enjoy? What inspires you to write?
It's hard to say what inspires me. What inspires any of us? Inspiration, I think, is a matter of keeping your eyes open and seeing the world a bit differently from everyone else. If you let new connections take place in your imagination, art will follow. Writing is never easy but when it works well it's an addictive process. At this point, my work has appeared in nearly 100 literary journals and I'm the author of several poetry collections: Traveling Through History, Draglines, The Kiss that Saved My Life, and a fourth collection, Finding the Gossamer, which will be appearing soon with a press in Ireland. Not surprisingly, I enjoy teaching Creative Writing at Augustana because I can share my passion for the written word. It's a real pleasure to help my students welcome words into their lives.

You mentioned that you taught in England and that your career has led you to live, teach, and study in other foreign countries. Is study abroad important for English majors?
Yes. Absolutely. Studying English is more than just reading a lot of books. It's about stepping into the skin of another human being and trying to understand the world from their perspective. Study abroad is vital for students in any discipline, but especially for those in my field it becomes even more important because study abroad cracks open the generosity of your soul and it helps you to rewrite the world. By studying abroad, you begin to narrate the world through new lenses and ideologies. I suppose you could say that reading itself is a type of "study abroad" because it transports you away from your world and places you in somebody else's.

What is your favorite class to teach at Augustana?
I don't have a favorite class. I do, however, have favorite classes. Each class has its own personality and I enjoy the interaction I have with my students. It's a pleasure to get to know them as individuals.

What are you currently working on ?
I'm currently working on two new books of poetry. The first is tentatively entitled, This London, and it is a poetic reshaping of the history of that city. London fascinates me. It's a vibrant city - a stage really - for the drama of life. I spent last summer there doing research and I'll be back again this coming summer for more. The book should be finished next year sometime. As for the other book of poetry, I'm still shaping it into form. I'm also at work on a number of short stories.

What are some of your interests outside of Augustana?
I'm a movie junkie. I love stories, so when I'm not reading or writing, I tend to rent a lot of movies. I particularly love foreign films because they open my world view and help me to see how I'm connected with other people and cultures around the planet.

Would you be willing to share some accomplishments or things that you've been particularly proud of during your time at Augustana?
I was delighted when I was chosen to be a Visiting Fellow at Oxford. Being a part of that ancient academic tradition was a powerful experience for me. I'm also proud of the three Pushcart Prize nominations that I've received for my poetry and fiction. My favorite accomplishment though is when strangers introduce themselves to me and say that my writing has touched them in some way. To make a difference in someone else's life, purely by the words that I've put on a piece of paper, is profoundly humbling.

Do you have a favorite meal in the Huddle or Commons?
Coffee. Lots of coffee.

If you could give prospective students one piece of advice as far as their college search, what would it be?
That's a hard one, but it's also an important question. Whenever I meet prospective students I always tell them that choosing a college is a lot like falling in love. You may not know exactly why you love someone, but you know when you're in love. In a similar way, a college should just "feel right". It is, after all, a relationship that you're entering into.

If you could give current Augustana students one piece of advice (and I know you do) what would it be?
After graduation, go out and see the world. Explore. Get your hands dirty with experience. It seems to me that students are in a rush to get married and own a home, but your education at Augustana should only be the first step in a life-long affair with knowledge. Once you get the tools you need here, go live abroad for awhile. Get out there and do some good. Imagine yourself using your education in unique and surprising ways. Lead an interesting life. Become allergic to expectations.

What is the best thing about being a part of the Augustana community?
I love the fact that we create individuals here. We nurture curiosity. We help our students dream things into reality that they never thought possible. What could be better than that?