Education
B.A. and M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia
M.F.A., University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Research Interests
Black and white, landscape, travel, and street photography; narrative nonfiction; travel writing
Recent Projects and Achievements
W. Scott Olsen’s 13th book, “Reading Frames,” a collection of his essays about photographic composition first published in Frames Magazine, was published in 2026. His 12th book, “Fargo Street,” a photobook of 100 images of downtown Fargo, was published in 2024. His photographs have been in solo and group exhibitions internationally, and his writing has appeared widely in literary and commercial journals. Currently the contributing editor of Frames Magazine, Olsen was editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Ascent for 26 years.
W. Scott Olsen
Professor Emeritus-in-Residence, English
Academy – 301