Immersion Writers

Workshop Leader: Airea Dee Matthews

Bryn Mawr Professor of Creative Writing

Guggenheim Fellow 2024

Airea D. Matthews received the 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship for poetry and served as Philadelphia's poet laureate from 2022 to 2023. Her first collection of poems is the critically acclaimed Simulacra, which won the 2016 Yale Series of Younger Poets Award. Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Poetry, The New York Times, Gulf Coast, VQR, Best American Poets, American Poet, LitHub, Harvard Review, and elsewhere. Matthews holds a BA in economics from the University of Pennsylvania as well as an MFA from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program and an MPA from the Gerald Ford School of Public Policy, both at the University of Michigan. She is an associate professor of the creative writing program at Bryn Mawr College.

Immersion Writers Africa

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When: January 3-9 2026

Where: Saly & Dakar, Senegal

Embark on a 7-day literary journey through Senegal, blending cultural immersion with creative rigor. Begin with three vibrant days in Dakar, through curated visits to Gorée Island, the Museum of Black Civilizations, and dynamic local markets. Then retreat for four intensive writing days in the serene coastal village of Saly. We're honored to welcome back Guggenheim Fellow Airea Dee Matthews to guide this unique experience. Whether you're a poet, journalist, scholar, professor, or storyteller working in any genre, this program meets you where you are and elevates your craft. Space is limited – join a select group of writers for this transformative experience at the intersection of culture and creation.

Program Tuition Includes:

Private accommodations (3 nights in Dakar, 3 nights in Saly)

  1. Pre-departure syllabus

  2. Daily breakfast + two group meals

  3. 4 afternoon workshop sessions with Airea Dee Matthews, including one-on-one feedback

  4. Ground transportation between program locations

  5. Curated visits to:

  • Gorée Island

  • Museum of Black Civilizations

  • Soumbedioune Market

  • Loman Art Gallery

  • African Renaissance Monument

    Tuition Fee: $2,470

    • $250 registration fee + 4 monthly installments of $555