(they/them)
poet/writer/translator
info + bio
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’re lucky to live in Oakland, CA on unceded Ohlone, Lisjan, and Muwekma land. Paul holds 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
- California Arts Council, Bay Area Individual Artist Fellow, Emerging Tier (2026)
- 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)