Hello everyone, my name is Oladosu Michael Emerald, and I am a poet from Nigeria.

I am excited to share that I have been offered admission into the fully funded MFA in Poetry at the University of Mississippi, beginning in Fall 2026. For me, this is more than an academic opportunity, it is the realization of a dream I have worked toward for years, and a rare chance to devote myself fully to writing under the guidance of an exceptional creative writing program.

For over six years, I have committed myself to poetry. My work explores identity, migration, survival, masculinity, and belonging. I am drawn to tenderness as a radical act, to language that can grieve and praise, tremble and sing. I believe poetry should hold contradictions and carry the full weight of the body: its ache, its joy, its longing. I am also very grateful to the publications and awards that have recognized and held my work, affirming both its urgency and its place within a wider literary conversation.

Although the program is fully funded, the cost of getting there remains a significant barrier. In Nigeria’s current economic climate, saving for international relocation is extremely difficult. As a writer, I face these realities daily, balancing creative work with the demands of living, and the financial requirements of this transition are more than I can meet on my own.

I am covering my visa application fee of $200 personally, having already committed $60 to application fees as part of this journey, and I am now seeking support to meet the remaining relocation costs.

Estimated Expenses:

-SEVIS Fee: $350

-Airfare (Lagos to Mississippi): $2,450

-Initial Housing (first month + deposit): $2,000

Total: $4,800

Every contribution, no matter the size, moves me closer to this journey. Your support means more than I can fully express.

Thank you for believing in me and helping make this possible

With gratitude,

Oladosu Michael Emerald