(they/them)
poet/writer/translator
info + bio
CV
Paul S Ukrainets is a poet/writer, translator, and educator. Their work studies state violence, private and public languages, surveillance technologies and (self-)perception.
They grew up in Russia to Soviet parents, moving to the UK in adolescence. They feel lucky to live in Oakland, CA on unceded Ohlone, Lisjan, and Muwekma land. They hold an MFA in Poetry from the Michener Center for Writers at UT Austin and a BA in English from Colorado College.
Paul is materially and ideologically committed to a free Palestine.
Honors
- NER Emerging Writers Award Finalist (2026)
- Good Hart Artist-in-Residence (2025)
- Poetry at Round Top festival fellow (2024)
- Patricia Cleary Miller Poetry Prize finalist (2023)
- Princeton in Asia Media Fellow in Laos (2019-20)
Community Roles
- poetry reader at New England Review (2026-ongoing)
- first reader and copy-editor for the Hillary Gravendyk book prize at Inlandia (2024)
- organizer/host, Recommended Reading series (2023-24)
- marketing + events director, hybrid genre editor at Bat City Review (2022-23)
Teaching
- multi-genre writing workshops, K-12 via The Library Foundation (2022-23)
- after-school writing workshops, K-4 via Austin Bat Cave (2021-22)
- adult ESL tutor (2020-21)
- workshop facilitator, El Paso County Jail (2017-19)