Jason Schneiderman, an English professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY), has been awarded the 2026 Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism by the Poetry Foundation. The honor was presented during a ceremony at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago on October 22. Schneiderman was one of five writers selected for this prestigious award, which recognizes exceptional book-length works of poetry criticism published in the United States in the previous year.
Read More
He received the award for his book, "Nothingism: Poetry at the End of Print Culture." Schneiderman expressed his excitement, likening the award to being promoted from a minor league to a major league status in his career. "Recognition and endorsement are powerful motivators for any writer," he stated, noting the joy in knowing that his essays, written over two decades, will continue to reach readers.
Schneiderman has a strong record of literary achievements, having previously received an Emily Dickinson Award from the Poetry Society of America, a Jerome J. Shestack Award from the American Poetry Review, and a 2023 Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Nottingham, where he completed the recognized book.
Jan Stahl, Chairperson of the BMCC English Department, congratulated Schneiderman, stating that the award is "well deserved" and highlights his significant contributions to poetry and criticism. She expressed pride in having him within the department, noting how rewarding it is to see his work celebrated.
During his Chicago remarks, Schneiderman discussed the peculiarities of print culture, using the example of how the letter 'r' is pronounced differently in various languages. He described these divergences as absurd yet fascinating, emphasizing the importance of cherishing the complexity and uniqueness of print.
Additionally, the Poetry Foundation honored Robert Pinsky with the 2026 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, Luis J. Rodriguez with the 2026 Pegasus Award for Service in Poetry, Nikki Grimes as the 2027–2028 Young People’s Poet Laureate, and Meg Day with the 2026 Pegasus Poetry Book Prize.