When Okoli Stephen Nonso arrived at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he brought with him a passion for poetry and a lifetime of stories. As a master’s student in English and creative writing, he has found
opportunities to develop his voice as a poet while making an impact on the UAB community as a writing tutor.
Originally from Nigeria, Nonso came to UAB because he wanted to perfect his writing and give the stories he carries with him a wider audience.
“As a writer, I wanted to strengthen my creative voice, sharpen my craft, and challenge myself to grow beyond the boundaries of what I had known,” Nonso said. “Coming to UAB has given me the opportunity to do that while experiencing a new culture, meeting people from different backgrounds, and learning from writers and scholars whose perspectives are different from my own.”
His interest in literature began growing up in Nigeria, where he was surrounded by stories shared by family members, neighbors and others he encountered. Poetry especially appealed to him because of its ability to capture complex experiences in just a few words.
Those themes are reflected in Nonso’s own work, which explores displacement, memory, place and the ways people carry history with them. His experience leaving Zaria, Nigeria, after the 2012 bomb blasts during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency continues to influence his writing.
“That experience made me interested in the stories that violence often leaves behind; the memories of people who had to move, the homes they could not return to, and the small details of ordinary life that disappear from official histories,” Nonso said. “I often write toward those absences.
“I am interested in what happens when a place survives primarily in memory, and how writing can recover fragments of that place.”
At UAB, Nonso has developed not only as a poet and scholar but also as a mentor to fellow students through the University Writing Center, where he has tutored since August 2025.
His work at the center has made a strong impression on students and colleagues alike. Dr. Jaclyn Wells, associate professor in English, described Nonso as a talented scholar and critic.
“He is a fantastic tutor who has worked with UAB students from all over campus,” Wells said. “His students love working with him because he listens actively, provides kind and constructive feedback, and shows a lot of patience.”
One student who worked with Okoli praised his expertise and kindness, writing, “He was excellent and knew exactly what he was talking about. He was very helpful and very kind.”
Outside of the classroom, Nonso has also presented a critical paper at the Northeast Modern Language Association Conference, examines student work for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and was awarded the 2026 Collins Family Endowed Scholarship in English.
For Nonso, effective tutoring begins with understanding that every student approaches writing differently. As he continues developing his career as a poet and scholar, Nonso hopes his work will encourage others to look closer at stories that are often overlooked.
“I want my work to remind readers that even stories that seem deeply personal can reveal something larger about a community or a generation,” he said.
At UAB, Nonso continues to use his own experiences to create poetry while helping others find the words to tell their own stories.