The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to honor Jessica Anthony, MFA Creative Writing '04, with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award in English.
Anthony is the author of four books of fiction, including the novel The Most, which was longlisted for the National Book Award and was a finalist for the Prix Fitzgerald and the Clark Fiction Prize.
Her novel, Enter the Aardvark, was a finalist for the New England Book Award, and her novel The Convalescent won the inaugural Amanda Davis Highwire Fiction Award from McSweeney’s. Her short stories have appeared in Best American Nonrequired Reading, Best New American Voices, McSweeney’s, The Idaho Review, and elsewhere.
Congratulations, Jessica Anthony!
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences honors distinguished alumni each fall at Community and Catalysts: Achievements, Awards, and Innovations. This signature event is a celebration of alumni, faculty, and students whose leadership, research, and service have made outstanding contributions to their fields, communities, and to the university.