16,951
edits
Changes
extensive editing and re-write
'''Scott Cairns''' (1954-) is an Orthodox a poet, memoirist, libretist, and essayistwho became an Orthodox Christian in his maturity. He serves as a [[reader]]/[[cantor|psalti]] at Saint St. Luke Orthodox Church ([[GOARCH|Greek Orthodox]]) Church in Columbia, Missouri, where he and is also a professor Professor of English and the director of the creative writing program at the University of Missouri. He was raised in Tacoma, WA, as a Baptist, becoming a Presbyterian in college; he became Orthodox in 1998, and is known by Orthodox friends as Isaac, after [[Isaac of Syria | Saint Isaac of Syria]], whose ''Ascetical Homilies'' were key to Cairns' embracing Orthodoxy. He was educated at Western Washington University (BA), Hollins College (MA), Bowling Green State University (MFA), and University of Utah (PhD).
Scott's collegiate education began at Western Washington University, Bellingham, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977. He then attended Hollins College, Roanoke, Virginia, from which he received a Master of Arts degree in 1979. In 1981, Scott was granted a Master of Fine Arts degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. Then in 1990, he received his PhD from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
In his professional life, Scott has taught American literature and creative writing at Kansas State University, Westminster College, University of North Texas, Old Dominion University, and University of Missouri[[http://english.missouri.edu/people/profile.php?person=cairnss]]. As Professor of English at the University of Missouri, he is Director of Creative Writing Programs and Director of the Center for the Literary Arts.
He lives in Columbia, Missouri with his wife, Marcia Vanderlip, and their two children.
== Bibliography ==
*''Finding the Broken Man'' (Window Press, 1982)
==Sources==*[[Wikipedia:Scott_Cairns]]*[http://imagejournal.org/page/artist-of-the-month/scott-cairns Scott Cairns] ==External linklinks==
*[http://imagejournal.org/page/artist-of-the-month/scott-cairns Biography from ''Image Journal'']
*[http://www.orthodoxspeakers.com/speakers/scott-cairns.html Bio note from Orthodox Speakers Bureau]
*[http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Cairns/e/B000APTL9Q/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 Amazon.com page]
[[Category:Modern Writers]]
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity|Cairns, Scott]]