EDUCATION

PhD Philosophy The European Graduate School, Saas-Fee, Switzerland (2021)

Thesis: “Fragmentaires de Blanchot: Documentary Editions of Maurice Blanchot’s Fragmentary Works (1969-1980)” 

Supervisor: Christopher Fynsk 

Committee Members: Avital Ronell (Chair), Christopher Fynsk, Nemanja Mitrovic

Coursework: Judith Butler, “Marx’s 1844 Manuscripts” (2021); Manthia Diawara, “Black Radical Thought and Surrealism” (2021); Fred Moten and Stefano Harney, “Fugitive Aesthetics” (2021); Fred Moten and Stefano Harney, ”The Damned and Les Damnés” (2020); Jean-Luc Nancy, “The Subject and ‘Ça’ – ‘It’" (2020); Werner Hamacher, “Being-With-Without” (2015); Giorgio Agamben, “Homo Sacer” (2013); Anne Dufourmantelle, “Sex and Philosophy” (2013); Bracha Ettinger, “Art, Psychoanalysis, Philosophy,” (2013); Alessandro de Francesco, “Poetry and Philosophy” (2013); Graham Harman, “Speculative Realism” (2013); Siegfried Zielinski, “Audiovisual History and Technoculture” (2013); Christopher Fynsk, “Blanchot,” and “Heidegger: Philosophy and Art” (2012); Avital Ronell, “Finitude in Philosophy, Literature and Art” (2012); Thomas Zummer, “Foucault” (2012).

MFA Creative Writing, Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC (2010)

Faculty Supervisors: Gabrielle Calvocoressi (2007); Mary Leader (2008); James Longenbach (2008); Kevin McIlvoy(2009); Martha Rhodes (2010).

Creative Thesis: “Metaphysics of Daydreaming” 

Supervisor: Martha Rhodes

Committee Members: David Baker and Alan Williamson

Analytical Thesis: “The Power of Exclusions: Charles Simic’s Gaps In The Image System, W.C. Williams’ Exclusions Of Referentiality, and Michael Palmer’s Suspensions Of Hypotaxis”

Supervisors: James Longenbach, and Kevin McIlvoy

Committee Members: Debra Allbery, Heather McHugh, and Ellen Bryan Voigt

Related Coursework: Patrick French, “Georges Bataille,” European Graduate School (2022); María Acosta López, “Aesthetics As Critique,” University of Paris 8 (2021); David Vander Meulen, “Scholarly Editing: Principles and Practice,” Rare Book School, University of Virginia, (2019); “French for Research,” University of Chicago (2018); David Whitesell, “Introduction to the Principles of Bibliographic Description,” Rare Book School, University of Virginia (2017); David Rodowick, “Philosophy and Film”, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University (2012); “Kant’s Critique of Judgement,” Morrisey College of Arts and Sciences, Boston College (2012), Françoise Dastur, “Heidegger’s Conception of Art,” Morrisey College of Arts and Sciences, Boston College (2012); Peter Eli Gordon, “French Social Thought,” Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University (2011); John Sallis, “German Idealism,” Morrisey College of Arts and Sciences, Boston College (2011).

TEACHING

Middlesex Community College, Chair, Professor of Philosophy, Ethics and Humanities, (2014-present)

ENG 101 English Composition I: Honors Seminar: The Black Public Intellectual

ENG 102 English Composition II: Honors Seminar: Theorizing Cancer, Practicing Care (2022) / The Social Reconstruction of Black Feminist Thought (2021) / The Colonized Subject (2020) / Intersectional Feminist Thought (2019)

ENG 150/200 Creative Writing I/II: The Queer Art of Failure (2021) / Forms of Knowing and Not-Knowing (2020)

ENG 151 Creative Writing and Literary Publishing: Writing Machines (2015)

ENG 155 Reading and Writing Fiction: Pataphysics, Oulipo and the Art of Perspective (2018) / The Haunted House of Fiction (2017)

ENG 185 The Short Story: The One and the Many (2015)

ETH 101 Ethics and Society: Honors Seminar: How To Change The World (2021) / Possessive Individualism (2022)

ETH 103 Ethics and Technology: Honors Seminar: The Human That Therefore I Am (2019-present)

HUM 102 Introduction to the Humanities: The Black Radical Tradition (2021) / 1968: Beauty Is In The Street (2020)

HUM 143 Race, Class, and Gender: Racial Capitalism (2021)

PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy: Erotics of Wisdom (2019)

HUM/PHL/SOC 299 Postcolonial and Diaspora Studies: Honors Seminar (2022)
 

Gordon College, Adjunct Professor of English and Creative Writing, (2012-2018)

ENG 140 Literature of Exile and Displacement 

ENG 146 Aesthetic Aspects of Literature 

ENG 212 Introduction to Creative Writing 

PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS EDITED AND AUTHORED

Bennett, Bonilla J. La Guagua Poetry Anthology: Celebration and Confrontation. 2019. 

Bennett, Bonilla J. La Guagua Poetry Anthology: Mother of Exiles: Madre De Los Exiliados. 2018. 

Ramirez, Willy, Anna Garcia, and Bonilla J. Bennett. La Guagua Poetry Anthology: Voices and Translations. 2017.

Bonilla, Jonathan B, and Vince Briffa. What Matter Who's Speaking. 2017. 

POEMS & TRANSLATIONS

Bennett Bonilla, J. and Jean Dany Joachim. An n al Lazil / Let’s Go to Lazil, Fred Lafortune, (forthcoming).

Bennett Bonilla, J. “Enveloppe,” and “Montage.” in INCISION // Falling Together, Holding Apart. Dirty Laundry Press, 2020. Print.

Bennett Bonilla, J. spoKe. Translations of Jorge Olivera Castillo’s poems, “Dead Alive,” and “Fantasy.” spoKe, Vol. 5, 2018.

“My problem with the species,” “Fear of Narrowsightedness,” Two, Glued Together,” “105 Years and Memories,” “Poet in a box.” Leonardo Nin. Translations by Bennett Bonilla, J. La Guagua Poetry Anthology: Mother of Exiles = Madre De Los Exiliados. , 2018. Print.

“Deuteronomy,” “Commonplace,” and “Invocation.” Alan Smith Soto. Translations by Jonathan Bennett Bonilla. La Guagua Poetry Anthology: Mother of Exiles = Madre De Los Exiliados. , 2018. Print.

“No Rimas,” “Deuteronomy 13:5,” and “Commonplace,” Sussy Santana. Translations by Jonathan Bennett Bonilla. La Guagua Poetry Anthology: Mother of Exiles = Madre De Los Exiliados. , 2018. Print.

“Navegando a Bizancio,” William Butler Yeats. Co-Translated by Leonardo Nin and Jonathan Bennett Bonilla. La Guagua Poetry Anthology: Mother of Exiles = Madre De Los Exiliados. , 2018. Print.

Bennett Bonilla, J. “History of Angels.” In R. White, M. Olzmann. Another and Another: an anthology from the grind daily series. Durham, NC: Bull City Press. (2012)

Bennett Bonilla, J. Metaphysics of Dreaming. The New Anonymous, 1. (2010). Print.

Bennett Bonilla, J. “Tertia - Or - Reverie.” Text included in rock album “Tertia” by Caspian (2009).

Bennett Bonilla, J. “Altarstones.” The Endicott Review, 26, 1. (2009). Print.

READINGS, TALKS & LECTURES

“Let’s Go To Lazil,” Plenary Session on Poetry in Creole and Translation and Poetry Reading, with Jean Dany Joachim, North Shore Young Writers Conference (2023) 

“My Darling Enveloppe,” Poetry reading, Boston Poetry Marathon (2022) 

“Destroyer of Worlds,” Poetry reading, Boston Poetry Festival (2021).

“Noths,” Presentation on Translation, ASDP Conference, hosted by Florida State University (2021)

“Enveloppe,” Poetry Reading, hosted by Fulcrum Annual of Poetry and Poetics (2020).

“Heart Through Which My Heart has Passed,” Poetry Reading, hosted by Lesley University (2019).

“Heart Through Which My Heart Has Passed,” Poetry Reading, hosted by La Guagua Poetry Festival (2018). 

“What Matter Who’s Speaking,” Presentation and Poetry Reading, Berkshire Community College (2017).

“What Matter Who’s Speaking,” Presentation and Poetry reading, Lit Con, hosted by Middlesex Community College (2017).

“The Angel of History,” Presentation on Arab Poetry and Poetics, Honors Conference hosted by Middlesex Community College (2014).

“Heart Through Which My Heart Has Passed,” La Guagua Poetry Festival (2017).

“La Cancion Desperada,” Poetry Reading, Beverly Arts Salon event, sponsored by Massachusetts Cultural Council (2016).

“Textolatry,” Poetry Reading, hosted by Gordon College, (2015). 

“Beloveds,” Poetry Reading, hosted by Bull City Press, AWP (2013).

“Sophismata,” Poetry Reading, hosted by PEN New England, Boston University (2011).

FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Racial Equity Initiative Fellow, Middlesex Community College (2021)

East-West ASDP Fellow, University of Hawaii (2021)

Public Humanities Fellow, Mass Humanities/National Endowment for the Humanities (2017-2018)

Scholar, Colrain Manuscript Conference (2011-2012)

MFA General Scholar, Warren Wilson College, (2009)

Elizabeth George Foundation Fellow, Vermont Studio Center (2007)

DEI TEACHING, INITIATIVES, FELLOWSHIPS, & DEVELOPMENT

Liberatory Educator: Pedagogy and Course Creation (2014-Present)

Faculty Development Team, Massachusetts Community College Equity Consortium, Department of Higher Education (2023)

Organizer & Moderator for Honors Program Social Justice Speaker Series: Speakers Include: Dr. Kyle Mays, Ayo Magwood, Dr. Sophia Edwards (2020-Present)

Data Governance Working Group (2020-Present)

Racial Equity Fellow (2021-22)

Faculty Consultant: Syllabus Equity Review (2021-22)

Leading for Change, Faculty/Staff Affinity Group Leader (2020-21)

Racial Affinity Caucus Member, Racial Equity and Justice Institute (2020)

Faculty Consultant: Syllabus Equity Review (2021)

Co-Founder, Event Organizer and Poetry Anthology Editor for the La Guagua International Poetry Festival (2017-Present)

Spectrum Club (LGBTQIA+) Faculty Advisor (2016-2019)

DEI Grants: "Pedagogies of Racial Equity,” “Black Feminist Pedagogy Grant,” “Race, Class, Gender Initiative Grant” (see Grantwriting Below)

INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVISM

Organizer for Faculty/Staff Antiracism Petition (2021)

Antiracist Educators & Pedagogical Development (Grant Funded Working Group)

Data Governance Working Group Consultant on Data Equity (2019-Present)

CONSULTANCY

Racial Equity Consultant, Writer, Translator and Presenter, 4 Ponds Poetry Festival, Gordon College (2020-2021)

Consultant on Syllabus Equity Review, Berkshire Community College (2020)

Faculty Consultant: Syllabus Equity Review, Middlesex Community College (2021)

Legal Translation: Citizenship Documents (2010) 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (attended)

Equity Literacy Institute: Facilitator Training (2023)

Foundations of Somatic Abolitionism with Resmaa Menakem & Education for Racial Equity (2022)

Advanced Equity Literacy Institute for Facilitators (2021)

Racial Equity and Justice Institute Summit (2020)

Equity Literacy Institute: Level I (2020)

Advanced Equity Literacy: Level II (2020)

East-West Institue Conference (2020)

Conscious Leadership Group: 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership Cohort, Level I, II, III (2020)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Workshops & Presentations

Presenter: Black Feminist Pedagogies 

Presenter: Ancestor as Institutional Foundation: Queer of Color Critique as a Lens for Institutional Change

Presenter: Sylvia Wynter & Ancient Chinese Philosophy in a Contemporary Context, Middlesex 

Presenter: Practices of Unknowing, East-West Institute, Honolulu HI

Workshop Facilitator: Syllabus Equity Review, Middlesex Community College 

Presenter: Four Ponds Poetry Festival

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS (attended)

Black Bibliography with Kenohi Nishikawa, Rare Books School at Princeton University (2022)

Fugitive Aesthetics- Fred Moten, European Graduate School (2021)

Black Quantum Futurism Prime Meridian Unconference- Vera List (online)

East-West Institute (2020)

Fred Moten and Stephano Harney (2020)

Black Surrealism Mantia Diawara & Terry Gise (2020)

Marx’s 1844 Manuscripts- Judith Butler, European Graduate School (2021)

Sex & Philosophy, Anne Duformontelle, European Graduate School (2013)

Walter Benjamin: Critique of Violence: Judith Butler (2014)

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: Facilitation and Moderation

Host and Panel Moderator- Lorgia Garcia Pena, Middlesex Community College (2023)

Host and Panel Moderator-  Kyle Mayes & Sophia Edwards, Middlesex Community College (2022)

Host and Panel Moderator- Dominican Female Poets, Middlesex Community College (2022)

Master Class Organizer, Host and Panel Discussion Moderator: 

Vladimir Pistalo on behalf of MCC Creative Writing Dept, Global Education Department & Scholars at Risk (2019)

Host and Panel Moderator- Yusef Komunyakaa, La Guagua Poetry Festival, MCC, Lowell MA (2019)

Host and Panel Moderator- Robert Pinsky, La Guaguag Poetry Festival, MCC, Lowell MA (2018)

Master Class Organizer, Host and Panel Discussion Moderator-

Jane Unrue & Sharhriar Mandianipour, on behalf of MCC Creative Writing Dept, Global Education Department & Scholars at Risk (2016)

Master Class Organizer, Host and Panel Discussion Moderator- Jane Unrue, Master Class (2015)

Host and Moderator- Chris Abani Vermont Studio Center (2007)

Host and Moderator- Wendy Brown, Vermont Studio Center (2007)

GRANTS & GRANT WRITING

AANAPISI Grantwriter/Recipient $150,000 (2022)

Parker Grant, Grantwriter $5,000 (2022)

Race, Class, Gender Initiative Grant, Founder/Grantwriter/Recipient, $10,000 (2021)

Black Radical Feminist Pedagogies Initiative, Founder/Grantwriter/Recipient $2,500 (2021)

Syllabus Equity Review, Grantwriter/Recipient $2,500 (2021)

Mass Humanities Grant, Recipient (2017)

National Enowment for the Humanities (NEH) Grant, Recipient (2017)

ASDP Asian Infusion Grant, Recipient/Ambassador (2016-2017)

Dead River Review Grant, Founder/Grant writer/Recipient (2015)

Middlesex Assessment Grant, Recipient (2014)

MEMBERSHIPS

Association of Writers & Writing Programs, Bibliographical Society of America, Modern Languages Association, Academy of American Poets, Philosophy of Science Association, Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy, International Walter Benjamin Society. 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Black Studies, Black Marxism, The Black Radical Tradition: Wynter, Robinson, Du Bois, Lorde, Wright, Moten, Jones, James, Kelley, and Baldwin; Queer Studies, Butler, Sedgewick, Muñoz, Stein, Halberstam, Nelson, Beckett, and Barad; Relationality, Textuality, Ecstatic Bibliography: Mallarmé, Poe, Benjamin, Howe; Theory -as-Praxis: Artaud, Celan, Char, Schiller, Hölderlin, Schlegel; Marx and the Hegelian Tradition; Fragmentary Writing, Experimental Writing, Communist Writing; The Novella, Palimpsests, Manifesti, Microscripts, Paratexts, Hypertexts and Marginalia; Translation and Theory of Translation, Genetic Criticism, Manuscript Studies, Scholarly Editing, Fluid Texts, and Avante-Textes.