Kazim Ali is the author of two books of poetry, The Far Mosque, and The Fortieth Day. He is also the author of the novel Quinn's Passage, named one of “The Best Books of 2005” by Chronogram magazine, The Disappearance of Seth, and Bright Felon: Autobiography and Cities. His work has been featured in many national journals such as Best American Poetry 2007, American Poetry Review, Boston Review, Barrow Street, jubilat and Massachusetts Review. He teaches at Oberlin College and at the Stonecoast MFA program, and is a founding editor of Nightboat Books. Co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Press.

UMMA is pleased to be the site for the Department of English Program in Creative Writing Zell Visiting Writers Series, which brings outstanding writers each semester. The Series is made possible through a generous gift from UM alumna Helen Zell ('64). For more information, please see www.lsa.umich.edu/english/grad/mfa/mfaeve.asp.