BINGHAMTON, NY – Maria Mazziotti Gillan, professor of English at Binghamton University, received the 2014 George Garrett Award for Outstanding Community Service in Literature from the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). Judith Baumel, AWP President and Northeast Representative, presented the award to Gillan at the 2014 AWP Conference and Bookfair in Seattle, WA on Feb. 26.

Gillan, who has promoted literature for nearly 35 years, is also the founder and director of the Binghamton Center for Writers and the director of the creative writing program. She has had numerous major achievements in the area of literature including receiving awards like          the 2011 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award from Poets & Writers, and the 2008 American Book Award for All That Lies Between Us (Guernica Editions, 2007). She has published 18 books and co-edited four anthologies with her daughter, Jennifer. Gillan is also the founder/executive director of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, NJ, and the editor of the Paterson Literary Review.

In her acceptance speech, Gillan thanked those teachers "who read poetry aloud in English in those dusty classrooms at PS18 in Paterson, NJ, those teachers who first introduced me to the music of the language and made me love literature."

The award is named for George Garrett (1929-2008) who made exceptional contributions to his fellow writers as a teacher, mentor, editor, friend, board member and good spirit. 

The Association of Writers and Writing Programs provides support, advocacy, resources, and community to nearly 50,000 writers, 500 college and university creative writing programs, and 125 writers’ conferences and centers.  Their mission is to foster literary achievement, advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, and serve the writers, teachers, students, and readers of contemporary writing.

For more information about Professor Gillan, visit her website at www.mariagillan.com or email mgillan@binghamton.edu.