By Hazel Scott/ASU
Dr. Linda J.M. Holloway, an associate professor in the Alabama State University College of Education, has received the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award from the National Association of Poetry in recognition of her substantial impact on poetry therapy. She will receive the award at the National Poetry Therapy Conference in Chicago on April 18, 2026.
Each year, the National Association for Poetry Therapy celebrates exceptional voices who have shaped the field.
“To have my work acknowledged by my peers and colleagues is a tremendous honor,” Holloway said. “This recognition holds special sentimental value to me. Hopefully, it’s a message of hope and encouragement for my students and peers to see that their work in Creative Expressive Arts can be recognized as excellent and impactful therapeutic practice, both locally and nationally.”
Holloway’s journey began with poems penned in high school and at university events. It was in her work as an Expressive Creative Arts Therapist that her poetry found a profound purpose. Her contributions to Cinematherapy (the therapeutic use of film) and Bibliotherapy (the use of literature to support mental health and emotional healing) are recognized nationally for creating innovative pathways to healing and inspiring conversations around Black mental wellness.
Through her poetry therapy, individuals are given space to process and express complex emotions born from trauma, grief, and oppression, while celebrating resilience and Black self-love.
Holloway’s tireless dedication has advanced poetry therapy both academically and creatively, making her a beacon in her field. Her poems, such as “If My Hair Could Talk,”“50 Shades of Blackness,” “Come on Down to Montgomery, Alabama,” and “God Bless America: You Got to Take Your Knee Off My Neck,” have been published in respected journals, with several having earned awards. She has also written several award-winning children’s books, including “I Love My Happy Hair.”
For Her outstanding services to the community, Holloway has been featured in multiple media outlets, popular podcasts and magazines, including “The Roland Martin Show, “The Grio” with Eboni K. Williams, “Living Strong: The Flip Side of Adversity,” “Zoom Into Books,” “Story Monster,” “Resilience” magazine, “Dopeliven TV” and “KISH” magazine.