Bethlehem University continues to make a global impact through academic and creative exchange. On 19 March 2025, Mr. Layth R. Awwad from the English Language, Literature, and Communications Department was invited as a virtual guest poet for the third time to Ms. Electra Aguirre’s (MFA) creative writing class at Colorado State University, Pueblo, USA. His participation reflects Bethlehem University’s commitment to fostering artistic expression and cross-cultural dialogue, inspiring students beyond the university’s walls.
During the session, Mr. Awwad shared and read some of his poems, offering insights into his writing journey and how he became a poet. He spoke about his perspective on the blank page as a space to be drawn upon with words, emphasizing that poetry is not only about language but also about the visual and experimental elements that shape its final form.
Mr. Awwad also shared his experiences and teaching methods for creative writing, both in poetry and short stories, at Bethlehem University. He stressed that writing is fundamentally about sharing experiences and connecting with others through the intimate details of life—something AI chatbots like ChatGPT simply cannot replicate.
In addition to discussing his own work, Mr. Awwad highlighted @BUWrites, an Instagram page he launched in 2020 to showcase the creative writing of his students at Bethlehem University. What started as a platform for student poetry has since expanded to include coverage of the English Department’s service-learning projects, various department activities on and off campus, and the annual creative writing contest he co-organizes with Ms. Paola Handal. These initiatives encourage students to share their writing, whether online or at the contest’s reading event for winners, amplifying their voices within and beyond the university community.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where both in-person and virtual students participated in discussions on topics such as poetry publishing and embracing the unplanned flow of writing. Mr. Awwad encouraged students to recognize moments of creative intensity and let them unfold naturally on paper rather than on a phone, where notifications and apps can be distracting. He shared a tip he often gives his students at Bethlehem University—invest in a small writing notebook. Using the analogy of a camera capturing moments, he explained that a notebook serves the same function for thoughts and emotions, preserving them in time as poetry.
Mr. Awwad’s continued collaboration with Colorado State University, Pueblo, underscores Bethlehem University’s mission to promote creativity, storytelling, and intercultural engagement. Through initiatives like this, the university reaffirms its role as a hub for artistic and academic excellence, inspiring students to use writing as a powerful tool for self-expression and global connection.