We are pleased to announce that award-winning author and journalism professor Dean Jobb has joined the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction program at the University of King’s College in Halifax.
In addition to being the author of seven nonfiction books and a widely recognized expert in Canadian journalism history, media law, and investigative reporting techniques, Dean spent 20 years as a reporter, editor, and columnist for the Halifax Chronicle Herald. He joined the faculty of the School of Journalism at King’s fulltime in 2004 where he is now an associate professor. Dean will continue to teach in the King’s journalism programs alongside his work with the MFA.
Dean’s most recent book is Empire of Deception: The Incredible True Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation. Published in the United States by Algonquin Books and in Canada by HarperCollins, this extraordinary biography won the Chicago Writers Association 2015 Nonfiction Award and was a finalist for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize, one of Canada’s most prestigious literary awards. Empire was also named a Globe and Mail “Top 100 Book of the Year” and a National Post “Book of the Year.”
Dean’s earlier books have also won prestigious honours, including the Evelyn Richardson Literary Award and the Dartmouth Book Award for Nonfiction. His work has been shortlisted for the National Business Book Award and the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Canadian True Crime book.
Dean will join Executive Director Don Sedgwick and Professor Stephen Kimber — along with professional writer-mentors Tim Falconer, Lorri Neilsen Glenn, David Hayes, Lori. A. May, Ken McGoogan, Kim Pittaway, Jane Silcott and Harry Thurston — to deliver the only master’s writing program in Canada that is devoted exclusively to creative nonfiction.
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction degree is a joint offering of the University of King’s College’s School of Journalism and Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies.
During the two-year limited residency degree, students attend two intense summer residencies in Halifax. They also travel to Toronto and New York on alternating years for publishing-focused winter residencies, and work one-to-one with professional writer-mentors to develop their own book proposals and projects.
The program is currently accepting applications for its incoming class, which begins with a summer residency at King’s College in Halifax from July 31–August 13.
A limited number of student bursaries are available for new students. You can find more information about the program here.
