THE DALLES, OR — Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is proud to announce that Jessamyn Duckwall, a writing instructor at CGCC, has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship. Duckwall was chosen from a competitive pool of 479 applicants for this honor, which recognizes literary excellence and supports Oregon writers in their creative endeavors.
Duckwall, who identifies as queer and autistic, received the Leslie Bradshaw Fellowship for their outstanding contributions to poetry. They hold an MFA in Poetry from Portland State University where they spent a year as Editor in Chief of Portland Review. In addition to teaching at CGCC, Duckwall leads community education poetry workshops, fostering creativity and expression within the local community, and are currently working on their first full-length poetry manuscript. Their work has been featured in both regional and national literary publications, including Old Pal, Kithe, Scavengers, Josephine Quarterly, and Radar Poetry.
The Oregon Literary Arts Fellowships have been awarded since 1987 to celebrate and support the state’s vibrant literary community. Duckwall’s fellowship highlights their dedication to the craft of poetry and their impact as an educator and artist in Hood River and beyond.
“We are thrilled to see Jessamyn’s talent recognized on such a significant stage,” said Dr. Kenneth Lawson, President of CGCC. “Their passion for writing and teaching inspires our students and enriches our community.”
Duckwall will be honored alongside other fellowship recipients at the 2025 Oregon Book Awards ceremony on April 28. The event will celebrate the achievements of Oregon’s literary artists and provide an opportunity for the public to engage with their work.