Piirto, Jane M.
December 19, 1941 -
Place of Birth: Negaunee, MI
Place of Principle Residence: Ashland, OH
Biography:
Jane M. Piirto was born to Pearl Eskilinen and George Piirto in Negaunee, MI. She earned her BA in English/Liberal Arts from Northern Michigan University in 1963 and her MA in English from Kent State University in 1966. She worked as an English instructor at Northern Michigan University before going back to school for her M.Ed in counseling at South Dakota State University in 1974, and subsequently her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision at Bowling Green State University in 1977. Upon graduation, Piirto worked for several schools, including Hunter College Campus Schools where she served as the Principal and Department Chair. Currently she is an Ashland University Trustees’ Professor in Graduate Education teaching graduate courses in the Masters Education department, qualitative research in the Education department, and undergraduate courses in educational psychology and creativity. In addition, she is a consultant, author, and speaker and has traveled throughout the US and abroad. Piirto specializes in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, and has received many awards for her work, including Individual Artist Fellowships in both poetry and fiction from the Ohio Arts Council. Currently Piirto lives in Ashland, OH and has two children: Steven and Denise.
Selected Works:
- My Teeming Brain: Understanding Creative Writers (2001)
- Between the Memory and the Experience (1996)
- Three Week Trance Diet (1985)
Awards:
- 1999 Parents’ Choice Award and Arizona Glyph Award for Understanding Those Who Create
- 1985 Carpenter Press First Novel Award
- 1980 Finalist, Iowa Short Fiction Contest
- 1993 Individual Artist Fellowship in Poetry, Ohio Arts Council
- 1982 Individual Artist Fellowship in Fiction, Ohio Arts Council
Critical Reception:
For Understanding Creativity:
“a unique adventure into the world of creative individuals, past and present…a valuable addition to the field of education.”
- Colleen Harsin, Davidson Institute
“!!!!!Must Read”
- Today’s Books
“many hidden treasures…an excellent book for anyone interested in creativity”
- Northwestern University, Center for Talent Development
“I can’t imagine a more complete publication anywhere about creativity”
- CAG Communicator, Summer, 2004
“issues she raised were very real, and they resonated with my observations and experiences with creative personalities, children and adults.”
-Gifted and Talented International, Spring, 2004
“offers advice on how to plan adventures while incorporating creativity values into one’s own family or classroom culture…entertaining.”
- Gifted Child Today, Fall, 2004
With Understanding Creativity, Jane Piirto undoubtedly makes a significant contribution to the field of creativity studies.”
-Roeper Review, Winter, 2005
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Piirto grew up in Negaunee Michigan, and earned her BA at Northern Michigan University and in addition taught at the same university for five years. In her poetry, some of her themes revolve around the landscape she experienced while growing up in Michigan.