Mallory Hellman (she/her) is a writer, educator, and advocate for youth creativity. Since 2015, she has served as the Director of the Iowa Youth Writing Project, where she leads programs that bring free, high-quality writing opportunities to young people across Iowa. Mallory graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop (MFA in Fiction) and Harvard University (BA in English and American Literature) and has taught creative writing at the University of Iowa, the Duke University Talent Identification Program, and in schools, shelters, and community centers throughout the Midwest. Her nonfiction has appeared in publications such as Tuesday Magazine and Forbes. In recognition of her leadership and community engagement, she received the Bravo Award from the Coralville Chamber of Commerce in 2015. In 2024, she co-founded the Experiential Education Collective, an organization devoted to promoting student-centered learning and hands-on creativity in schools and other educational spaces.
Mallory became Director of the IYWP in 2015. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from a 20-volunteer group working in four local schools to a team of over 150 University of Iowa-based volunteers delivering programs that reach more than 20 schools across the state each year. In 2025, the IYWP’s Middle School Writing Conference welcomed more than 300 students from across Iowa, providing free, high-quality creative writing opportunities for young writers. In recognition of her work in community education and leadership, Mallory received the Bravo Award from the Coralville Chamber of Commerce.
