Jill Peláez Baumgaertner

Dr. Baumgaertner previously taught at Valparaiso University and joined the Wheaton faculty in 1980. She is the author of What Cannot Be Fixed (Cascade (Poiema Series), 2014), Finding Cuba (Chimney Hill Press, 2001), a collection of poems that explores her Cuban ancestry; and three poetry chapbooks: Leaving Eden (White Eagle Coffee Store Press, 1995), Namings (Franciscan University Press, 1999), and My Father’s Bones (Finishing Line Press, 2006). She has also written a textbook/anthology, Poetry (Harcourt Brace, 1990); and Flannery O’Connor: A Proper Scaring (Cornerstone Press, 1998. Reprint 2013). In 2012, she edited Imago Dei: Poems for Christianity and Literature (Abilene Christian University Press, 2012).

In the past several years, she has worked with composer Carl Schalk on several libretti for choral music. She was a Fulbright fellow to Spain, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is also the winner of the White Eagle Coffee Store Press’s poetry chapbook contest, the Goodman Award, an Illinois Arts Council Award, the Illinois Prize of the Rock River Poetry Contest, and the CCL Midwest Poetry Contest. She serves as poetry editor of The Christian Century and is past president of the Conference on Christianity and Literature. She served as Dean of Humanities and Theological Studies from 2001-2017.

Emory University
Ph.D., English

Drake University
M.A., English

Emory University
B.A., English

• Modern Language Association
• Conference on Christianity and Literature
• Associated Writing Programs
• Fulbright Association
• Society of Midland Authors

What Cannot Be Fixed. (Eugene, OR: Cascade (Poiema Series), 2014).

The Great O Antiphons: A Service for Advent. Carl Schalk, composer; Jill Baumgaertner, poetic meditations. (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 2013)

Imago Dei:  Poems from Christianity and Literature, Jill Baumgaertner, editor (Abilene Christian University Press, 2013).

Simeon's Song: The Nunc Dimittis, Carl Schalk, composer; Jill Baumgaertner, librettist. (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2011).

Scenes from the New Testament, Carl Schalk, composer; Jill Baumgaertner, librettist. (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2009).

My Father’s Bones (Georgetown, Kentucky: Finishing Line Press, 2006).

Finding Cuba (Valparaiso, Indiana: Chimney Hill Press, 2001).

Namings (poetry chapbook) (Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1998).

Flannery O'Connor: A Proper Scaring, 2nd Edition (Chicago: Cornerstone, 1998, Reprint 2013).

Leaving Eden (poetry chapbook) (White Eagle Coffee Store Press, 1995).

Poetry (textbook) (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1990).

Flannery O’Connor: A Proper Scaring (Harold Shaw, 1988).