In 2006 Jayson Iwen returned from four years teaching at the American University of Beirut. He then worked in the medical software industry for over a year before joining the English Department at Beloit College. His book-length poem, Six Trips in Two Directions, won the Emergency Press book contest in 2005, and his experimental novella, A MOMENTARY JOKEBOOK, won the Cleveland State University novella contest in 2007.