Hal Sundt ’12

  • Senior Lecturer of Writing and Communication

Areas of Study

Education

  • MFA, nonfiction writing, Columbia University School of the Arts, 2015
  • BA, Oberlin College, 2012

Biography

Hal Sundt teaches literary journalism and academic essay writing. He also consults with students who are writing their medical school personal statements.

His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Ringer, The American Scholar, and elsewhere. This story was recognized as a “Notable” selection in The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2021. His first book is Warplane: How the Military Reformers Birthed the A-10 Warthog.

Fall 2024

Finding Stories in Surprising Places — FYSP 078
Literary Journalism — WRCM 207

Notes

Hal Sundt Article Published on "The Ringer"

July 23, 2024

Senior Lecturer of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt wrote about tornadoes, storm chasing, and the movie Twisters for The Ringer.

Hal Sundt Article Published in "The New York Times Magazine"

February 7, 2024

Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt ’12 wrote for The New York Times Magazine about living in the Hotel at Oberlin and watching QVC.

Hal Sundt Appeared on Podcast

October 25, 2023

Hal Sundt appeared on the podcast "The Greg Krino Show" to talk about his new book, Warplane: How the Military Reformers Birthed the A-10 Warthog.

Hal Sundt Wrote Story for "The Ringer"

July 25, 2023

Senior lecturer in the Department of Writing and Communication, Hal Sundt wrote for The Ringer about Richard Rhodes and his book, The Making of the Atomic Bomb.

Story by Hal Sundt Long-listed as a Notable Essay

October 15, 2021

The story “Pythons of the Everglades” by Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt ’12, which was published in The Bitter Southerner, was long-listed as a notable essay in "The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2021." This story was made possible in part because of a Grant-in-Aid from Oberlin.

Hal Sundt receives book deal

October 6, 2021

Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt ’12 has received a book deal from Lyons Press for his first book of nonfiction, tentatively titled Go Ugly Early: A Story of Survivable Design and the Air Force's Un-Killable Jet, which will chronicle the design, development, and service life of the A-10 Thunderbolt II (a.k.a "The Warthog").

Hal Sundt Publishes Essay on Quarantine and the TV Show Frasier

April 17, 2020

Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt published an essay on quarantine, space, and one of his favorite shows, Frasier, for the American Scholar.

Hal Sundt Publishes Story about Burmese Pythons

February 25, 2020

Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt's story "Pythons of the Everglades" was published in the Bitter Southerner. The story was made possible by funding through a grant-in-aid from Oberlin College.

Hal Sundt Publishes Story on the Future of Amusement Parks

February 24, 2020

Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt ’12 published a story about the future of amusement parks for the Ringer. The story was also recognized on Longform, an aggregator of top literary journalism stories.

Hal Sundt Publishes in Los Angeles Review of Books

April 4, 2019

Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt's story "Giving up the Ghost" was published in the Los Angeles Review of Books

Hal Sundt Publishes

October 9, 2018

Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing and Communication Hal Sundt's piece "Norman Doors" was published in the New York Times Magazine.

News

Karishma Kesapragada ’26 on the Journey of Writing at Midstory

July 31, 2024

Karishma Kesapragada ’26 recognizes the importance of process, even when it’s messy. As an intern at Midstory, she has spent a lot of the summer in the process of writing and editing; she attributes her comfort level with this to Oberlin.