Poet, novelist, and Western Carolina University professor Ron Rash has been named a Guggenheim Fellow for 2017. Only 173 scholars, artists, and scientists from the U.S. and Canada receive the prestigious honor from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. The fellowships are awarded "on the basis of prior achievement and exceptional promise." Each fellow receives a $50-thousand award to support their work.
Rash arrived at Western Carolina in 2003. He has written seven novels, including Serena, which was set in the mountains of North Carolina. It made the New York Times best seller list and was later made into a movie starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Rash has also published several books of poetry and short stories. In a statement released by the university, Rash said, "“It truly is an honor for me to be chosen for this award, especially because many writers whom I admire have received this award in the past. I am humbled to find myself mentioned alongside the likes of Cormac McCarthy, Margaret Atwood and Raymond Carver.”
Rash spoke at NPR's "Going There" event in Asheville in February of 2017. He read one of his poems and an excerpt of Serena. Both can be watched below (at the 29:49 & 1:12:43 marks respectively).