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Arrows Making an Impact: Kerry (Jensen) Trautman ’94

When Kerry (Jensen) Trautman ’94 enrolled at SUA, she felt that it was “home.” Despite her introvert nature, she loved Drama Club, as it forced her to break out of her shell. She performed in plays, co-wrote a one-act play, and worked on the stage crew for school productions. She also participated in French Club and traveled to London and France. After graduation, Kerry attended the University of Toledo Honors College, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities in 1998.

Kerry has published seven books of poetry and more than 250 individual poems and short stories in international literary journals and anthologies. Her eighth book will be published in the summer of 2023. She also works as a freelance writer for area newspapers. Kerry is active in the local poetry community, participates in readings, is a member of the Ohio Poetry Association, and co-founded ToledoPoet.com and its companion Facebook page, “Toledo Poetry Museum,” which promote Northwest Ohio poetry events. Since 2016, she has judged the Poetry Out Loud competition. She has also led poetry workshops in schools—from pre-school- through university-level—as well as at literary festivals and conferences.

Kerry said, “The person you feel like you are at age 17 may not be the same person you are at 27, or at 37, and that’s ok. We’re constantly changing, learning, and growing at every stage of our lives.” She feels compelled to present poetry lessons to students, to participate in reading events, to take lessons from peers, to host poetry contests, to attend conferences, and to publish her work. All these ways of living a “writerly life” enrich her well-being while contributing to the general literary world and fostering the arts.

Find out more about Kerry at https://linktr.ee/OhioKerry, on twitter: @ohiokerry or on Facebook: “Kerry Jensen Trautman.”

 

  • Making an Impact