Dr. Sybil Estess, PhD
About me
I completed my Ph.D. from Syracuse University in New York and I am the author of poetry with six books, finishing a prose book about my growing up in small town southern Mississippi before 1960.
I love deserts, New Mexico, Southern California, my family, my friends, good poetry, literature and art—and also psychology. I live in a sixty-plus-year-old house in Texas, was reared in Mississippi, educated in Texas, Kentucky, and New York. My husband, Ted Estees is the Founding Dean of the Honors College at the University of Houston and we have just built a new log house in Colorado. Life is often paradoxical and complex. It is always moving.
I have taught at the University of Houston, the University of St. Thomas, Rice University and Houston Community College. I also taught writing courses at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.
I became a feminist in the 1960's. I was attending Syracuse University and I would look out the window and see the students protesting about Kent State and the Vietnam War. Feminism was rapid and rampant. I joined a women's writers group and other women's groups. I am a liberal democrat. We relocated to Houston, Texas and I have lived here for the past 39 years.
About my company
Sybil Pittman Estess, Ph.D. has been nominated for Poet Laureate of the State of Texas for 2015, and was one of eight finalists for Poet Laureate in 2009. Her previous poetry volumes include: Maneuvers, 2010, by Inleaf Press; Labyrinth, Pecan Grove Press, 2007; Blue, Candled in January Sun, Word Tech Communications, 2005; and Seeing the Desert Green, Latitudes Press, 1987.
Born in Mississippi, Sybil Estess has a B.A. degree from Baylor University, a M.A. from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University. Sybil has lived in Houston for nearly 30 years. She has served as a literature panelist for both the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Cultural Arts Council of Houston as well as on the Adult Education Council of Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral. Sybil Pittman Estess was a founding organizer of the Houston Poetry Fest.
Estess has published poems in such journals as The Texas Review, New Texas, Concho River Review, Borderlands, Windhover, Shenandoah, The Paris Review, The New Republic, Western Humanities Review and Southern Poetry Review. Her literary criticism has appeared in Modern Poetry Studies, The Southern Review, The Denver Quarterly, The Iowa Review, New Texas, Borderlands, Manhattan Review, The Texas Review and elsewhere.
Estess has taught at the University of Houston, the University of St. Thomas, Rice University, Houston Community College, Blinn Colleges in Brenham and College Station, Texas, and for Inprint, non-credit extension of the Creative Writing Department at the University of Houston, Christ Church Cathedral, and the C. G. Jung Center.
She has been a Traveling Artist for Austin Writers League, in Austin, Texas, and in the summers of 1995 -2002 Sybil Pittman Estess taught in "Common Ground," formerly a National Endowment of Humanities (NEH) Seminar in Multi-Cultural Literature for teachers.
Poetry manuscripts of Estess' have won runner-up in five national contests: Green Rose, New Issues Press; University of Michigan Press; Walt Whitman Contest; University of North Alabama; and Salmon Run Press. They have also received Honorable Mention at the University of North Texas Press.
I chose this career path because
I have been teaching for over 50 years and have been writing for the last 30 years. I was brought up very religious and was always thinking about GOD. This is what inspired me to write.
I prepared for this career by
I received my Bachelor of Art Degree from Baylor University, a Master of Art Degree from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University.
The biggest challenge I've overcome
The biggest challenge is to be married to a very successful man. My husband, Ted, holds a Ph.D. in Humanities from Syracuse University. For thirty-one years, Ted was the leader of Honors education at the University of Houston, first as Director of the Honors Program, and then, in 1993, as Founding Dean of the Honors College.
My greatest strength(s)
My greatest strength as a writer is being compassionate. I am a great friend, parent, grandmother and companion.
My greatest accomplishment to date
My greatest accomplishment is raising my one son. I am also very proud of my six books that I have authored:
Elizabeth Bishop and Her Art: Collected Essays in Criticism. Co-edited with Lloyd Schwartz. University of Michigan Press, 1983. (Reviewed in: New York Times Book Review, February 27, 1983).
Seeing the Desert Green, (poetry) Latitudes Press, 1987.
Blue, Candled in January Sun, (poetry) Word Tech, 2006.
Labyrinth, Pecan Grove Press (Poetry), 2007
Maneuvers,(Poetry). In-Leaf Press, 2010.
In a Field of Words, (Creative Writing Textbook, written with Janet McCann. 2002, Prentice-Hall.)
My personal/professional goals
My goal is to write until I don't have a mind anymore. I am currently writing a non-fiction book.
What/Who has inspired me the most
My whole life has been my inspiration. I am currently 73 years old. My mother is deceased and I was an only child for 4 1/2 years. My mother constantly read to me.
I most want to be known/remembered for
I want to be remembered for being a friend, partner, mother, writer and teacher.
I participate in the following organizations/memberships
I am a member of the Modern Language Association, Council of Arts Council of Houston, CG Young Center Texas Commission of the Arts and Traveling Artists. I teach at the Imprint Writers Organization and teach at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral.
I have received the following Honors/Awards/Scholarships
I am the feature writer and several Texas Writing Conferences. I am also the recipient of:
1990- Who’s Who in American Women
1985-date--Artist-in-Education (Poet) of the Texas Commission on the Arts
1982--Contributor, Centrum Writers' Conference, Port Townsend, Washington
1982--Research Travel grant to New York and Boston (Grants-In-Aid), University of Houston
1981-Nominated for University-wide Teaching Excellence Award, University of Houston/Central Campus.
1977-Research Travel Grant to New York (Grants-In-Aid), University of Houston
1973-74-Graduate scholarship, Syracuse University
1971--Contributor, Breadloaf Writer's Conference
1967--National Endowment for the Humanities, Summer Study Grant
1964--(Awards at Baylor University)
Laurel Society Award as "Outstanding Senior Woman"
Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities
Dean's Academic List (1963, 1964)
I support the missions of these charities/volunteer my time
I donate to Red Cross, Smile Train, United Way, Water for Developing Countries in Africa and India and my Church. I was:
Parent Board: Dodson Magnet Montessori School (HISD). Responsible for over $100,000 raised over six years in grants to fund music programs at Dodson Montessori and Whitby Elementary Schools.
Taught poetry writing in after-school program in low-income elementary school for HISD, Spring, 1985. (Anson Jones Elementary)
Steering Committee Member: Houston Poetry Fest 1986, 1989.
Humanities Panelist, 1986-1987: Cultural Arts Council of Houston.
Christian Education Council, 1984-1987: Christ Church Cathedral, Houston.
(Chaired symposium on "Religion and the Visual Arts," November, 1986.)
Grant Writer for University of St. Thomas Department of English Literary Reading
Series (Grants written to and secured from Texas Commission on the Arts and Cultural
Arts Council of Houston), 1987, 1988.
Director, University of St. Thomas Literary Reading Series for 1987, 1988.
Volunteer Fundraiser for S.E.A.R.C.H Project for the Homeless, Houston. Raised
$12,000 in June 1990.
Fundraiser: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” Women’s Shelter, Pasadena, Texas, 1992.
Organizer and Active Participant in CAPS (Citizens for Action for the Public Schools),
Southeast Houston, Texas, 1992-Present.
Vice President, SLAC (Southwest Literary Arts Council), Houston, 1986-Present.
Cultural Arts Council of Houston, Literature Panelist, 1985-86.
Texas Commission on th Arts Literature Panelist, 1994-1995.
Literary Touring Initiative, Austin Writers' League, 1994-present.
I enjoy the following hobbies/interests
I love spending time with my grandchildren, going to the gym, swimming and walking in nature. My mother was an artist and I have over 100 of her paintings that I want to share with the world.