Meet Devon Fulford

We recently connected with Devon Fulford and have shared our conversation below.

Devon, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Being weird is simply the way I came into this world. And when you spend your entire life being the odd one out, eventually, you come to accept and embrace this about yourself.

This does not mean things have always been simple for me! On the contrary, I’ve faced bullying, being the outcast, feeling shunned, and learning that others may struggle to be kind to me because of my identity. But those are not people I want to have in my life. I’ve undergone periods–especially in my formative years–when I let the judgements of others change me for the worse. As I have aged and grown with experience and time, I’ve come to firmly believe that if you act with sincere kindness and generosity, others will typically respond in a comparable manner.

It’s not always easy to be the pink sheep in a room filled with black, white, and grey fur, but being authentic will always be my most crucial characteristic.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a professor of writing at Colorado State University and a poet, both of which are deeply intertwined components of my identity.

Being able to effectively communicate in writing is not just a professional skill–it’s a undertaking that saved my life. But writing is daunting to a lot of people, and making it enjoyable is a real challenge. In my classrooms, I challenge conventional pedagogical strategies and regularly implement experiential learning activities. Students are not simply writing essays or taking reading quizzes. They go to art exhibitions, learn from each other and experts in the community, do scavenger hunts and potlucks, and experience education in myriad forms beyond the walls of the classroom.

In similar ways, my poetry often confronts difficult topics (e.g., misogyny, bullying, identity) in ways that make said topics more palatable and relatable to a broad readership. I write from my lived experience, but also draw from the lives and trials of the people I’ve met and love in this life.

My latest poetry chapbook, onus (Alien Buddha Press, 2025), came out in August of this year. I’m thrilled, too, to have two more chapbooks and a micro-chap scheduled for publication in 2026.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Tenacity, curiosity, and the willingness to embrace change and try new things.

These three qualities are essential for success. If you’re curious and willing to experiment with new ideas or challenges, you’ll have breakthroughs. You may have to repeatedly try and struggle before the epiphanies arrive, but that’s where tenacity comes in.

Every rejection, failure, or let down is going to sting in the moment (some more than others). Setbacks often feel overwhelming and it’s natural–and necessary!–to feel pain if you don’t meet your intended goal. Just don’t let these break you. You’ve got to keep going. Take time to mourn a loss, but don’t let it derail your progress. When you’re healed enough to move forward, make adjustments to your plan and just keep going.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Publishing poetry isn’t the same as publishing in other genres (e.g., there are precious few literary agents who represent poetry manuscripts and fewer opportunities to be published by a “big” publishing house) and all of the work I’ve done to get where I am today has been 100% my own effort.

At Colorado State University, I am colleagues with some of the most talented and beloved contemporary poets (and educators!) in America. So although I have had some recent success in publishing, I’ve been diligently working to thwart my imposter syndrome. In November, I will be reading at CSU alongside two colleagues–both who have been awarded Guggenheim Awards and have published MANY well-regarded full-length books–which is an exceptional honor. It is one way of feeling like I’ve arrived and I, too, belong.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.definwords.com/
• Instagram: @drdevonf
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devon.fulford
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-devon-fulford/

Image Credits

Photos by Faith Danielle, 2024-25, Look4Light Photography (https://www.facebook.com/look4lightphotography)