Professor Nalo Hopkinson

Areas of Interest

Literature

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Letters

Biography

Nalo Hopkinson is a critically-acclaimed author, Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, and valued mentor to several of our University’s Creative Writing students. 

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Nalo grew up in a literary family - her mother a library technician, and her father an actor, poet, playwright, and teacher of English and Latin.

During her formative years, she enjoyed close contact with some of the region’s leading writers, and she became well-versed in traditional Caribbean folk tales which, despite her move to Toronto at the age of 16, have continued to have a strong influence on her own writing.

Nalo’s first book, Brown Girl in the Ring, won the Locus Award for Best First Novel, and was a finalist in the “battle of the books” television show, Canada Reads.

In 1999, Nalo received the Ontario Arts Council Foundation Award for Emerging Writers, and she was the recipient of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

Her second novel, Midnight Robber, published in 2000, was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel. And her 2001 novel, Skin Folk, won the World Fantasy Award and the Sunburst Award for “Canadian Literature of the Fantastic”

Published in 2003, The Salt Roads received the Gaylactic Spectrum Award. And in 2008, her novel The New Moon's Arms received the Prix Aurora Award - Canada's reader-nominated award for science fiction and fantasy. The New Moon's Arms also won the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, making her the first author to receive the Sunburst Award twice.

In recent years, Nalo has focused on post-colonialism and resistant narratives. And in recognition of this work, she was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside.

Throughout her career, Professor Hopkinson has been notable for the outstanding ways in which she has supported other writers and artists.  She has worked in libraries, been employed as a government culture research officer, and served as Grants Officer at the Toronto Arts Council.

Nalo has taught writing at various programs around the world, including stints as writer-in-residence at Clarion West, one of the most prestigious writing workshops in the US. And in 2017, she is due to receive one of the highest accolades that the science fiction field has to offer – she will be Guest of Honour at the 2017 World Science Fiction Convention.

Our University already enjoys close links with Professor Hopkinson. She has mentored many of our Creative Writing students, and she has said she will be delighted to support students on our new MA in Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Nalo’s passionate and insightful commitment to the literary exploration of issues such as race, class and sexuality, exemplify the focus, determination and talent required to excel at the highest level.

Find out more

Twitter - @Nalo_Hopkinson

Website - nalohopkinson.com

Nalo's graduation

You will be able to watch all our ceremonies live, including this ceremony, on the following link:

Watch our 2016 graduation ceremonies