Sarah Elizabeth Schantz

Adjunct Instructor

Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics

EDUCATION:

BA, Writing & Literature, Naropa University; MFA, Writing & Poetics, Naropa University

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS:

BA Creative Writing & Literature, MFA Creative Writing (Low-Residency,) MFA Creative Writing & Poetics

COURSES TAUGHT:

The Ghost, The Glimmer (SWP Workshop) / Special Topics: The Gothic & The Grotesque (MFA) / Rooting in the Archives (MFA low-res) / Writing and the Occult (MFA) / Villain Craft (MFA low-res)

Sarah Elizabeth Schantz is a writer living on the outskirts of Boulder, Colorado, with her family in a Victorian-era farmhouse where they are surrounded by open sky, century-old cottonwoods, and coyote. Her first novel Fig debuted from Simon & Schuster in 2015 and was selected by NPR as A Best Read of the Year before winning a 2016 Colorado Book Award. Schantz’s short fiction, essays, and poetry have won several awards, and she has been published by literary journals such as The Third Coast, Los Angeles Review, Hunger Mountain, Midwestern Gothic, The Adirondack Review, Maggot Brain, and others.

She has a special interest in fairytales, coming-of-age narratives, Gothic literature, mental illness, women’s literature, monsters, and mother-daughter relationships. In addition to teaching at Naropa, she teaches for Lighthouse Writers Workshop and leads her own private workshop series, (W)rites of Passage where she also offers creative writing midwifery for clients one-on-one.

PUBLICATIONS:

  • Modern Grimoire: Contemporary Fairy Tales, Fables & Folklore (Indigo Ink Press, 2013)
  • Fig (Simon & Schuster, 2015)
  • Down in the Water (a chapbook from Gesture Press, 2021)

YOU ARE READY.

This is where experiential learning meets academic rigor. Where you challenge your intellect and uncover your potential. Where you discover the work you’re moved to do—then use it to transform our world.

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Academics

Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.  

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If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.

Life at Naropa

Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community,  “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom

The Naropa Difference

How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person. 

About Naropa

Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion. 

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Naropa Campuses Closed on Friday, March 15, 2024

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.