Acclaimed
Poet Traces her Love of Writing to Fort Miller and McLane
44 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT : MAI DER VANG
Award-winning poet Mai Der Vang first learned to love poetry from her English teachers at Fort Miller Middle School and McLane High School .
She is an example of the powerful influence of excellent teachers , and still remembers favorites from Holland Elementary School , Fort Miller and McLane .
In a recent interview from her fourth-floor office at Fresno State , she looked back on pivotal moments in her life that led her to where she is now – an assistant professor teaching creative writing at the university and author of two award-winning books of poetry , “ Afterland ” and “ Yellow Rain .” “ Yellow Rain ” was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry this year . Vang is the first Hmong American to be recognized in the 106-year history of the Pulitzer Prizes .
Vang said teachers in her formative years changed the path of her life .
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