Dr. Tyrone Jaeger, professor of English-creative writing, chair of the English department, and director of the creative writing program at Hendrix College, has been named interim director of the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs in Literature and Language upon the May 31 retirement of Director Hope Coulter.
“I'm honored that the Murphy family, President Petersen, and Provost Garrett trust me with the important work of guiding the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs,” said Jaeger, “and I'm indebted to Hope Coulter's modeling of leadership in her role as director.”
A national search for the Foundation director will begin in the next academic year.
“Ty’s experience in both Hendrix College and the Murphy Programs will make him a great leader of Hendrix-Murphy,” said Dr. Teresa A. Garrett, executive vice president and provost. “I look forward to working with him to bring impactful opportunities in literature and languages to our faculty and students.”
Hired as the Hendrix-Murphy Writer-in-Residence in 2008, Jaeger played a major role in establishing the creative writing emphasis within the English major and the cocurricular Creative Writing program. He became a member of the College's permanent faculty in 2012 and was awarded the Margaret Berry Hutton Odyssey Professorship in 2020 and the Isabelle Peregrin Odyssey Professorship of English-Creative Writing in 2023.
“I could not feel better about passing the reins of the Hendrix-Murphy directorship to Ty Jaeger,” said Director Hope Coulter.
“Ty has long been instrumental in Murphy programming and knows it inside-out. He is trusted and well-liked and will be able to nourish the faculty buy-in for Murphy projects that’s so crucial to our success. For the past 17 years, it’s been my honor not just to work with Ty, but to have him as a friend.”
Jaeger teaches classes in fiction writing, literary hybrids, the creative writing senior thesis, digital storytelling, creative non-fiction writing, and Irish short stories.
“He is incredibly generous,” said Dominic Diamond ’25, an interdisciplinary studies major from Sherwood, “both as a professor and a creative, always going above and beyond for his students."
“Ty is a master teacher, kind, approachable, possessed of broad interests and knowledge,” said Coulter. “He doesn’t try to mold students into his own literary style but rather helps them find and hone their own authentic voices.”
Diamond added, “I'm confident that under his leadership, the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation will continue to be the vibrant hub of literature and language we know it as today."
Through the Creative Writing Program, Jaeger developed a number of signature campus events such as Word Garden, the student reading series, and ShopTalk, a series of curated craft talks, as well as encouraging student writers to prepare their work for submission to literary journals and competitions.
“Due to his mentorship, I became part of the first graduating class of English-Creative Writing majors,” said Dr. Collen Mayo ’11, assistant professor of English-creative writing and Murphy Fellow in English.
“My personal journey is the rule, not the exception; I am positive Ty’s teaching, mentorship, and programmatic work has resulted in an enriched language and literature-focused life for so many Hendrix students.”
He has directed countless group and independent writing projects, including publishing and editorial internships, and has led students to literary and writing conferences in Portugal and Ireland. In summer 2025, along with Dr. Colleen Mayo, he is leading a group of 12 students to Ireland to attend the International Conference on the Short Story in English.
Born and raised in the Catskill Mountains in Prattsville, New York, Jaeger began his journey of higher education at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida with a B.A. in English and minor in Irish Studies. After college he taught at a high school for at-risk students in Florida before teaching at a private high school in Denver for almost 10 years.
He went on to earn an M.A. in English and a Ph.D. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
A winner of the Porter Literary Prize for Literary Excellence, Jaeger is a multi-genre writer and poet whose published works include the novel “Radio Eldorado,” the story collection “So Many True Believers,” and the cross-genre novella “The Runaway Note.” His novella “Heavenly Creatures” will be released in January 2027.
His writing has appeared in publications such as the “Oxford American,” “Southern Humanities Review,” “The Literary Review,” and more.
Jaeger also engages in interdisciplinary projects with photographers, musicians, and filmmakers. Working with photographer and Associate Professor of Art Maxine Payne, Jaeger developed the project “Audio-Visual Arkansas: Citizen Storytellers,” which “explored the people, places, and wonders of Arkansas through multi-media documentaries.”
Jaeger lives on Beaverfork Lake in Conway with his wife, Julee, and daughter, Uschi.
"Ty’s energy for community-building, his care in mentorship, and his genuine curiosity and love for creating opportunities in literature and language have been core to his presence on campus for 17 years,” Mayo added. “His work could not be better extended now in his upcoming position as interim director of the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation. We are all so excited!”
About the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation
The Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs in Literature and Language were founded in 1978 by a gift from Charles H. Murphy, Jr., former CEO of Murphy Oil Corporation, in memory of his mother Bertie Wilson Murphy. Their mission is to enhance and enrich the study of literature and language at Hendrix College. For more information, visit hendrixmurphy.org.
About Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at hendrix.edu.