For KB Brookins ’17, attending TCU — made possible by the Community Scholars program — was life-changing. A creative writing class sowed confidence; a seminar on Toni Morrison inspired Brookins’ goal to write a book through Morrison’s publisher, Alfred A. Knopf. Brookins wrote for student media and performed poetry in campus talent shows before graduating with a bachelor’s in writing.

While pursuing a master’s degree in poetry at the University of Texas, Brookins published How To Identify Yourself With a Wound, a short book that won the Saguaro Poetry Prize, and Freedom House, a full-length volume of poetry. “I also do what I call cultural work,” said Brookins, who has created and facilitated workshops for student groups and departments at the University of Texas in Austin and San Antonio on topics including Blackness, queerness and transness.

In 2023, Brookins won a National Endowment for the Arts creative fellowship in poetry. “Definitely looking forward to the things that I can do with that support,” they said. Brookins’ memoir, Pretty, is due out in 2024 — from Alfred A. Knopf.

Courtesy of KB Brookins