I am a humanities scholar with a special interest in Australian women writers and biography. My biography of renowned Australian poet Gwen Harwood, My Tongue Is My Own (LaTrobe University Press & Black Inc., 2022), won the 2023 National Biography Award.
In my role in the School of Access Education, I facilitate research in enabling education, with a focus on widening participation in higher education.
University of South Australia (BA Journ)
University of Adelaide (BA)
University of New England (MLitt)
Macquarie University (PhD)
Central Queensland University
Magarey Medal in Biography 2024
National Biography Award 2023
Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship 2017
Highly Commended, Dorothy Hewett Award 2016
Shortlist, Calibre Prize for an Outstanding Essay 2014
Varuna Publisher Fellowship 2011
Australia Council (Literature Board) Grant 2010
Josephine Ulrick Literature Prize 2004
Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for a Thesis of Exceptional Merit (PhD), Macquarie University, 2001
Gregory Day, ‘Poetry against the Odds’, The Weekend Australian, 23 April 2022, p. 18.
Morag Fraser, ‘An inside look at the tumultuous life of one of our fiercest poets’, Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 May 2022, https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/a-meticulous-portrait-of-one-of-our-greatest-poets-20220512-p5akvy.html
Elaine Lewis, ‘My Tongue is My Own: A Life of Gwen Harwood’, Review, Loud Mouth: Music Trust E-Zine, 29 April 2022, https://musictrust.com.au/loudmouth/my-tongue-is-my-own-a-life-of-gwen-harwood/
Geoff Page, ‘Gwen Harwood was a poet's poet who made her way in a man's world’, Review, The Canberra Times, 28 May 2022, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7749393/making-her-poems-in-a-mans-world/
Susan Sheridan, ‘The tongue is an eye’, Review, Sydney Review of Books, 6 June 2022, https://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/review/priest-a-life-of-gwen-harwood/
Stephanie Trigg, ‘Harwood’s many voices: A nuanced biography of the poet’, Review, Australian Book Review, no. 443, June 2022, https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/current-issue/978-june-2022-no-443/9175-stephanie-trigg-reviews-my-tongue-is-my-own-a-life-of-gwen-harwood-by-ann-marie-priest
I've taught undergraduate and/or honours units in literary and cultural studies, communication and professional writing.
As well as teaching undergraduate students, I have worked as an editor, an educational designer and an academic learning advisor.
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
Specialist Studies in Education - Specialist Studies in Education not elsewhere classified
Historical Studies - Biography
Literary Studies - Australian Literature (excl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Literature)
Literary Studies - British and Irish Literature
Literary Studies - North American Literature
Performing Arts and Creative Writing - Creative Writing (incl. Playwriting)