George Layng

George Layng’s research focuses on contemporary American poetry and the cultural dimensions of poetic form. He has published criticism on William Carlos Williams and Gwendolyn Brooks, and his dissertation examines 20th-century American ballads. He also has published on The Great Gatsby. Besides poetry, his current critical work focuses on 20th century creative nonfiction and in particular environmental issues. George directed the Reading and Writing Center at Westfield State from 1999 to 2010. Before entering academia, George worked as a broadcast and print journalist at news organizations in Connecticut and Vermont. He serves as a faculty advisor to The Westfield Voice, the campus newspaper.