Office Hours:
My classes and office hours vary by semester, but you can find the current schedule posted outside my office. You can always reach me via email or phone.
Courses:
2540 – Introduction to Literary Studies: Reading Poetry
An introductory course that involves the reading and analysis of poetic works from a variety of time periods and cultures
2350 – Women and Literature
A literature course that explores women as characters in and writers of literature, including fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry.
2030 – Writing Poetry
An introductory course that provides students an opportunity to practice the craft of writing and analyzing poetry
1900 – Introduction to Creative Writing
An introductory course that provides students an opportunity to practice the craft of writing in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction (memoir)
1202 - College Writing II
Research writing for degree-seeking students
1002 - College Writing II - Workshop
A supplemental class to College Writing 2, limited to 10 students
1201 - College Writing I
First-year college reading and writing, with an emphasis on rhetorical and critical thinking skills
1001 - College Writing I - Workshop
A supplemental class to College Writing 1, limited to 10 students
Education
- BA, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
- MFA, Warren Wilson College
Born and raised in Pierre, South Dakota, Kara Olson is a poet and educator who earned a BA from the University of Minnesota and an MFA from Warren Wilison's Program for Writers. Kara lives in Minneapolis where she is a 2026-2027 McKnight Writing Fellow. A recipient of The Sewanee Review poetry prize, her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Massachusetts Review, Third Coast, and other publications. Her debut manuscript, The Order of Blooming, was a finalist for the 2025 National Poetry Series, and her second collection, The Light Between Us, was a finalist for the 2026 Trio Award with Trio House Press. She is a professor of English at North Hennepin Community College and is humbled daily by working with students from all walks of life and by advocating for educational equity and justice.