Janna Lopez, MFA

I’ll guide you to clarity, confidence, & connection to your deepest expression & creative freedom

Words. Expression. Internal Liberation. Clarity. Confidence. Connection. These are more than passive ideas, they’re essential air for human experience with capacity to dream, create, imagine. I guide people all over the world as an Executive Creative Coach, workshop facilitator, book completion coach, keynote speaker, classroom educator, and published author. Here’s a link to some of my published work.

Some Fun Facts:

I’ve written poetry my whole life. Didn’t start reading poetry until I was in my early 50’s while in my graduate school program.

I’ve written 3 books—a memoir and 2 poetry collections. Books 4, 5, and 6 are all in the works to be released summer 2025. Book 4, “The Bypass to Brilliance,” is based on my unique writing philosophy, and very specific techniques developed through years of successfully helping 1000’s of people achieve writing freedom. Book 5, “Poetic Intelligence,” shares an inspired path for how poetry can help you creatively excel, experience a more fulfilled life, and open your expression to an unimagined level. Book 6—{title TBD}—is a collection of poems, essays, and short stories.

I’m also a prolific photographer; I use this art from for visual poetry & expression.

I’m a respected tequila educator and enthusiast.

My 5 favorite world cities include Venice, Italy, Vancouver, BC, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Tokyo, Japan.

I’m a 70’s & 80’s music loyalist.

I grew up in Los Angeles, right near Hollywood.

I was a successful magazine publisher for nearly a decade.

I can’t say no to French fries.

I believe everyone has a capacity to imagine, write, express, and create poetry.

I believe poetry instills reflection & understanding in a way nothing else can.

I successfully inspire individuals and corporate leaders to achieve unimagined levels of creative expression. Write that book. Unearth your dormant expression. I’ve seen the powerful life-shifting results for those who’ve finally welcomed their own dreams, and arrive to experience my totally proven out-of-the-box approach.

Awards, Honors, Recognition

2025: Appointed Creighton University’s inaugural Poet-in-Residence for their internationally-recognized Medical Humanities program. Being selected to fulfill such a significant role is a tremendous honor. As faculty, I support students and other faculty by teaching my Poetic Intelligence methodology to bolster the reflective process for future care providers. I collaborate with faculty across numerous arts and humanities disciplines to share how poetry extends conceptual thinking abilities. I’m building a world-class poetry program through immersive curriculum, intentional community outreach, and ensuring accessibility by integrating poetry into everyday life.

2025: AWARD WINNER: Willamette University, Recent Alumni Leadership, Innovative Achievement. The Recent Alumni Leadership Award is given to graduates who’ve already made noteworthy contributions to their communities, their industry or their causes.

  • Innovative Achievement: awarded to an alum in recognition of significant achievements in entrepreneurship, leadership or innovation since graduating from Willamette.

  • Non Nobis Solum (Not for ourselves alone are we born): awarded to a recent graduate who has made significant contribution to society, the world or however one defines "community." This Latin phrase, attributed to Cicero, suggests that humans are born not just for their own individual benefit, but also for the benefit of others and the common good. It emphasizes the importance of contributing to society and acting for the well-being of others.

Honoring accomplished alumni

The Willamette Alumni Board of Directors Membership and Awards Committee is a group of alumni volunteers that thoroughly reviews nominations and recommends the slate of finalists to the full Board of Directors for approval by vote. Since 1958, the Alumni Board of Directors has celebrated members of the alumni community annually who exemplify the University’s mission of — Non nobis solum nati sumus.

2023: I was the Santa Fe Poet Laureate ambassador. In this highly-prestigious position I conducted dozens of community workshops with hundreds of business owners, students, and City dignitaries. My innovative programs were designed to integrate poetry into everyday life, and ensure poetry became more accessible and equitable. I presented poetry in various cultural contexts and at important City-wide events.

2023: Inaugural guest writer for Santa Fe Community College’s Writing Generation series held in partnership with Institute for American Indian Arts. This series was about giving people time and inspiration to write, building community, amplifying New Mexico voices, and giving students across the globe facetime with faculty.

The free online series was open to the public and consisted of two types of events: readings by New Mexico writers and creative sessions when attendees were guided to write. The program-launch event featured a reading by Janna Lopez, Santa Fe Poet Laureate program ambassador, followed a week later with a creative session when Janna shared her creative approach of Self-Conversation with attendees.

2023: WINNER, 3rd Place Fiction. “Elaine’s Last Garden,” New Mexican’s Pasatiempo statewide writing contest.

2021: WINNER, 1st Place, Nonfiction. “What We Don’t Owe,” Santa Fe Reporter annual writing contest.

2021: AWARD WINNER: Volunteer of the Year, School to Career program, Hillsboro, Oregon, Chamber of Commerce. I was recognized for my weekly writing workshops created for teen students during the pandemic. Award nominees are nominated based on the volunteer’s efforts to promote and model life-long learning as key to students’ future success.

2019: GRAND GOLD WINNER: My book project, Sweet Dreams, Story Catcher - collection of Brian Doyle essays on behalf of University of Portland, won Grand Gold award from CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education). Out of 2,856 entries, 611 institutions, in 20 countries. Only 26 Grand Golds awarded. I was the editor, project manager, and conceptual creator of this memorial collection.

I graduated summa cum laude with an MFA in creative writing from Pacific Northwest College of Art/Willamette University. I learned from an innovative program based on writing as a means for equity and social justice. I believe we all have the right and power to express who we are.

  • Santa Fe Poet Laureate ambassador New Year’s Eve Poetry Presentation at the Plaza

  • 2025 Willamette University Award Winner: Leadership, Innovative Achievement

  • New Mexico School for the Deaf

    New Mexico School for the Deaf high school class completed 3-month poetry curriculum which culminated in a beautiful anthology

  • First book, “Me, My Selfie & Eye”

  • Poetry presentations in the community as Santa Fe Poet Laureate ambassador

  • I blend my photography (visual poetry) with my written poetry