Mary Anna Scenga Kruch

Poet

Williamston, MI
Michigan US

Author's Bio

Mary Anna Scenga Kruch is a career educator, writer, and photographer, often inspired by her Italian family, social justice, and the natural world. She taught middle school language arts and was a reading specialist during 30 years of classroom teaching following a BA in English Education and MA in Literacy from Michigan State University. Dr. Kruch earned a Ph D in Curriculum and Instruction in 1991. Following her classroom teaching career, Mary Anna worked as an Assistant Professor in English Education at Grand Valley State University and served as a Field Supervisor for Nothern Michigan University. Dr. Kruch has published a textbook, Nurturing Motivation in Young Adolescent Writers (2012), a poetry chapbook, We Draw Breath from the Same Sky (2019),  a full-length collection, Grace Notes: A Memoir in Poetry & Prose (2021), and a full-length book, Water Marks (2024). She is widely published in state and national literary journals.

Publications & Prizes

Books:
Water Marks (Goldfish Press, 2024)
,
Grace Notes: A Memoir of Poetry & Prose (Goldfish Press, 2021)
Chapbook:
We Draw Breath from the Same Sky (Finishing Line Press, 2019)
Prizes won: 

Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award Honorable Mention, Phi Delta Kappa, Michigan State University, 1991

Professor of the Year, School of Education/English, Grand Valley State University, 2004

The Charles Carpenter Fries Award from Michigan Council of Teachers of English, 2021

Best of the Net nomination, 2025

Pushcart nomination, 2025

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Robert Fanning Amy Tan Maya Angelo Joyce Carol Oates Wallace Stegner Janine Certo W.S. Merwin Terry Blackhawk Robert Fanning Terry Wooten Mary Oliver John Ashbery
What I'm reading now: 
Or Did You Ever See the Other Side? by Hedy Habra, Cauterized by Laura Apol, Stone Circle Poets by Terry Wooten

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Italian American
Prefers to work with: 
Adults, Children, Mental Health, Teachers, Women
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Detroit, MI
Michigan
Raised in: 
Detroit, MI
Michigan
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jul 17, 2026