Alumni Spotlight: S.J. Sindu

What is your job title, and what kind of work does it involve?
Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Toronto - I teach creative writing, literature, and queer studies classes. I also sit on the advisory committee of the Bonham Center for Sexual Diversity Studies.

I'm also an author of two novels, Marriage of a Thousand Lies and Blue-Skinned Gods (forthcoming in November this year), and two hybrid chapbooks, I Once Met You But You Were Dead, and Dominant Genes (forthcoming in February 2022).

What sparked your interest in your majors/areas of study?
I started out in computer science but then took a creative writing class in my freshman year and fell head over heels in love with writing. I was also heavily involved in queer activism on campus, and wanted to supplement it with a minor in LGBTQ/Sexuality Studies.

What is the value of your majors/areas of study?
The preparation I received at UNL was invaluable to me. On the creative writing side, the education was professional and focused on depth. I also got to work with visiting writers like ZZ Packer and Tim O'Brien. On the women's and gender studies side, the education was diverse and innovative, and prepared me to teach my own classes in queer studies and approach my creative work with queer methodologies.

Tell us about the path you took to get to where you are today in your career and how you applied your education in your majors/areas of study to get here.
My undergraduate degree in English helped me by honing my craft and making me believe in my work. My minor in LGBTQ/Sexuality studies helped me by giving me the tools and theories with which to approach the world. My graduate degree in English gave me the time and space to write, to really dedicate myself to the work. My MA thesis became my first published novel.

Were there any other experiences from your time at Nebraska that helped you get to where you are now?
I worked at Student Involvement, which helped me to connect with the larger community. I also wrote for the Daily Nebraskan, which cemented my yearning to see my name in print. But most of all, I got involved in student activism around queer rights, trans rights, and gender equality issues. This experience shaped my pedagogy and writing.