Key Facts
| Born | Occupation | Education | Notable Works | Awards & Honors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978, Iowa | Writer · Professor · Activist | B.A., University of Missouri (2002); M.A., University of Kansas (2004); Ph.D. Creative Writing, University of Houston (2008) | Trespasses: A Memoir (2012); The Other Side: A Memoir (2014); The Reckonings: Essays (2018); More City Than Water (2022) | Finalist, National Book Critics Circle (2014, 2018); Art in Service to the Environment Award, Texas Sierra Club (2022) |
Early Life and Education
Lacey Kirk Johnson’s narrative voice and theme of identity and location are shaped by her rural childhood in Iowa and Missouri. Her three Midwestern universities prepared her for creative nonfiction.
| Year | Degree | Institution | Thesis / Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | B.A. in English | University of Missouri | — |
| 2004 | M.A. in Creative Writing | University of Kansas | — |
| 2008 | Ph.D. in Creative Writing | University of Houston | I, Mongrel (creative memoir) |
Notable Works & Achievements
Johnson’s personal memoirs and societal critiques have garnered national attention and several award nominations. She boldly addresses trauma, justice, and environmental justice.
| Title | Year | Publisher | Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trespasses: A Memoir | 2012 | University of Iowa Press | — |
| The Other Side: A Memoir | 2014 | Tin House | Finalist, National Book Critics Circle; Edgar Award nominee |
| The Reckonings: Essays | 2018 | Scribner | Finalist, National Book Critics Circle; Best books of 2018 by multiple outlets |
| More City Than Water: A Houston Flood Atlas (co-ed.) | 2022 | University of Texas Press | Art in Service to the Environment Award, Texas Sierra Club |
Academic & Activist Roles
Johnson balances scholarship and community participation at Rice University and the Houston Flood Museum. She coaches writers and leads environmental storytelling projects.
| Role | Institution / Project | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Professor of Creative Nonfiction | Rice University | Teaching memoir, essay, and narrative nonfiction |
| Founding Director | Houston Flood Museum (online) | Archiving flood stories; environmental advocacy |
| Public Speaker & Workshop Leader | Various literary festivals | Trauma, justice, climate resilience |
Recent Activities
Johnson has written about climate change, social justice, and natural disasters in top magazines since 2022. Despite no family updates, her public profile is based on environmental and cultural critique.
| Year | Essay Title | Publication | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | “Shape of the Wound” | Orion | Infrastructure failure & resilience |
| 2022 | “Downstream” | Orion Magazine | Urban flooding & community response |
| 2023 | “How to Mourn a Glacier” | The New Yorker | Climate grief |
| 2024 | “The Extraordinary Relief of Debt Forgiveness” | Harper’s Bazaar | Economic justice |
Family and Personal Life
Johnson’s memoirs reveal her childhood family dynamics, but she keeps her current family life private. April 2025 saw no public remarks or news about her relatives.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Childhood Home | Macon, Missouri |
| Family in Memoirs | Parents and siblings mentioned in Trespasses |
| Current Privacy | No publicly documented family updates |
FAQ
Who is Lacey Kirk Johnson?
Lacey Kirk Johnson, born 1978, is an American writer, creative nonfiction lecturer, and environmental activist.
What are her most influential books?
Her most influential works include The Other Side: A Memoir and The Reckonings: Essays, both finalists for major literary awards.
Where does she teach?
She instructs Rice University’s Houston creative nonfiction students.
What is the Houston Flood Museum?
Johnson developed an online repository of Houston’s flood history and resiliency tales, maps, and statistics.
Has she received any major awards?
She was twice a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and won the Texas Sierra Club’s Art in Service to the Environment Award in 2022.
