Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley

Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley immigrated with her family to the United States during the Liberian civil war. A survivor of the Liberian civil war, Wesley is the author of three full length books of poetry: The River is Rising,  Becoming Ebony, and Before the Palm Could Bloom: Poems of Africa. She has published numerous poems and non-fiction memoir articles in several American and international literary magazines and anthologies. Wesley is currently working on her fourth book of poetry, a children’s book, and her memoir about the Liberian civil war. She is the recipient of several literary awards and nominations, including the 2002 Crab Orchard Award for Becoming Ebony, the Anisfield-Wolf Award Nomination for The River is Rising, Individual Artist Awards from the Kalamazoo Foundation, and a World Bank Fellowship, among others. She is currently assistant professor of English and creative writing at Pennsylvania State University’s Altoona campus, and lives in Pennsylvania with her family.