Waynesburg University’s Dr. Robert Randolph of the department of English has an up-and-coming book of poems titled “Broken” that is set to be published late February or March of this year.

Randolph has a previously published book as well, titled “The Appalachian Archive,” that came out in 2021.

Both manuscripts led him to become a finalist for The Fernando Rielo World Prize for Mystical Poetry in both 2006 and 2021, in which over 250 entries were submitted from 29 countries. Even though he did not win the contest, Randolph’s religious poetry found its way to Wipf and Stock Publishers, who published both books.

“I am delighted that they found a publisher,” Randolph said. “In writing them both, I felt what in the old days might have been called the presence of the muse, a presence helping the poet write a good poem.”

He also said that both of these books’ collection of poems are strongly influenced by his relationship with God.

“These days, I would call it just a sense of closeness to God in the writing,” Randolph said.

According to Hope Miller, a senior English Professional Writing Major at Waynesburg University, seeing professors succeed encourages her to believe that writing can be more than just something needed for a job. She said that she believes that writing in more meaningful and personal ways is possible.

“I think it’s really awesome that professors are pursuing their interests and getting published because it shows me that my own interest in writing can matter and make a difference beyond graduation,” Miller said.