Zak Jones
2019 – Present Ph.D. Candidate, English Literature, University of Toronto
Thesis Title: “Bad Veterans: Alienated and Disruptive Figures in 20th Century American Literature” – Supervisor: Michael Cobb
2017 – 19 Master of Arts, English Literature [In the Field of Creative Writing], University of Toronto
Thesis Title: Fancy Gap: A Novel – Supervisor: Pasha Malla
2013 – 17 Honours Bachelor of Arts, “High Distinction,” University of Toronto
Specialist: English Literature, Minor: Creative Expression and Society
Graduate Teaching Experience, University of Toronto
American Pastoral: Agriculture and Environment in Literary Imagination – Graduate Course Instructor
Appointment Term: 2022
Undergraduate Teaching Experience, University of Toronto
Literature for Our Time – Teaching Assistant/Tutorial Leader/Guest Lecturer
Appointment Terms: 2022-2023, 2021-2022, 2018-19
Creative Writing – Teaching Assistant/Tutorial and Workshop Leader
Appointment Terms: 2022, 2021, 2019-2020, 2018
Introduction to Creative Writing – Teaching Assistant/Tutorial and Workshop Leader
Appointment Terms: 2022, 2020
What Is Literature? – Teaching Assistant
Appointment Term: 2022
Intro to Canadian Literature – Teaching Assistant/Tutorial Leader
Appointment Term: 2021
Effective Writing – Teaching Assistant/Course Administrator
Appointment Terms: 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017
Forthcoming Publications/Projects
Fancy Gap: A Novel – Complete/On Submission
Review: Literary Rebels: A History of Creative Writers in Anglo-American Universities (Oxford UP, 2022) by Dr. Lise Jaillant in Papers/Cahiers, the Journal of Bibliographical Society of Canada
So Much More to Say: A Novel – In Progress
Jackal: Television/Streaming Miniseries Concept – Complete/On Submission (Shopping)
Parallax/People, Convergence/Fire: A Poetry Collection w/ Ali Pinkney – Complete/On Submission
Mamas: Short Stories – In Progress
She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain: Short Archival Film – In Progress
Creative Writing Workshops
Member, Jack McClelland Writer-in-Residence Workshop w/ David Chariandy, 2022
Member, Jack McClelland Writer-in-Residence Workshop w/ Karen Solie, 2020
Founder/Member, Graduate English Creative Writing Working Group, 2020-Present
Founder/Facilitator, “Decent Exposure” Writers’ Workshop, UofT, 2019
Volunteer Facilitator, “Sandbox Sessions” Youth Workshop w/ Whitney French, 2019
Member, Workshop in Creative Writing w/ George Elliott Clarke, 2018
Member, Workshop in Creative Writing w/ Robert McGill, 2017
Member, “The Novel: A Masterclass” at Victoria College, 2016-2017
Member, Fiction Workshop w/ Camilla Gibb at Victoria College, 2016
Member, Poetry Workshop w/ A.F. Moritz at Victoria College, 2015
Academic Scholarships, Distinctions, and Awards
Recipient of 2022 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award in English, UofT, 2022
SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral, University of Toronto, 2020-2023
Jackman Humanities Institute’s Program for the Arts Fellowship, 2019
Frederick Marker Ph.D. Fellowship, University of Toronto, 2019
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council: Canada Graduate Scholarship, 2018
Department of English Creative Writing Scholarship, University of Toronto, 2018
Avie Bennett Emerging Writers Scholarship, University of Toronto, 2018
Graduated “High Distinction,” University of Toronto, 2017
Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Leadership Scholarship, University of Toronto, 2017
UofT Scholar Award, University of Toronto, 2015
Woodsworth College Book Box Award, University of Toronto, 2015
Dean’s List Scholar, University of Toronto, 2015, 2016, 2017
Noah Meltz Scholarship, University of Toronto, 2014
Literary Distinctions and Awards
Writers’ Trust of Canada, RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers 2023 - Winner, "So Much More to Say"
Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award (Iowa Review) – Shortlisted Story, “Lovehandles,” 2022
Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award (Iowa Review) – Shortlisted Poem Sequence, “Tobaccoville Fire,” 2022
Berlin Writing Prize (SAND Berlin) – Longlisted Story, “Constellation” 2022
Thomas Morton Memorial Prize (The Puritan Magazine) – Shortlisted Story, “Signpost” 2019
Academic Service and University Volunteer Experience
President, Graduate English Association, University of Toronto, 2018-2019
Council Representative, University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union, 2018-2020
Student Representative, Graduate English Planning Committee, University of Toronto, 2019
Organizer, GEA “Health and Wellness in Academia” Workshops, UofT, 2018-2019
Organizer, GEA “Brown Bag Lunch” Lecture Series, UofT, 2018-2019
Union Steward, CUPE 3902, University of Toronto Education Workers Union, 2018-2021
Mentor, Academic Bridging Mentorship Program, University of Toronto, 2017-2020
Student Representative, Woodsworth College Council, University of Toronto, 2015-2017
Refereed Conferences
“Polyglossic Opry: A Chorus of Appalachian Shoals.” UnDisciplined, Cultural Studies Conference, Queens University, April 6th, 2019.
“Purity, Irony, and Pity: Musings on Synecdochic Representations of Disability in Southern Gothic Literature.” Graduate English Conference, University of Toronto, April 27th, 2018.
“‘That Tiny Square of White as though Gazing Down into the Barrel of a Gun’: American Repression on the Brink of WWII in Richard Wright's Native Son." Constructing America, Graduate History Conference, University of Michigan, May 5th, 2018.
Memberships
League of Canadian Poets; American Studies Association; Modern Language Association; Liaison of Independent Filmmakers (LIFT) Toronto
Military Record
Branch: US Army
Unit: 1-89th Cavalry Squadron, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
Dates: 2009 – 2013 (Active) 2013 – 2017 (I.R. Reserve)
Rank: Corporal (E4)
Specialization: 68W Healthcare Specialist
Positions: Combat Medic, Senior Medic, Medical Platoon Squad Leader, Aid Station Sergeant
Awards: Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Expert Marksmanship Badge
Discharge: Honorable
