Bio and Curriculum Vitae

Drew Philp

+49 176 312 73459 ⬥ +1 517-260-1022

Overview

Drew Philp’s journalistic and written work regularly reaches millions and is published internationally, including in translation, in outlets such as in BuzzFeed, De Corespondent, The Atavist, and the Guardian. In 2026, he was the recipient of the ASME National Magazine Award for Reporting for his piece concerning the war and likely Genocide in Tigray, Ethiopia. In 2017, Scribner published his nonfiction novel, the Stuart and Vernice Gross award-winning A $500 House in Detroit: Rebuilding an Abandoned Home and an American City, which was excerpted in the Guardian and praised widely.

Philp is a sought after expert and speaker, including venues such as TED, Google, Carpenters’ Hall, CSPAN, and many more. His work includes book chapters, university teaching, and curation. A native of rural Michigan in the USA, he moved to Berlin, Germany in 2021.

Select Literary, Academic, and Community Publications:

Author of a commissioned essay for Middlebury Language Schools covering AI and education. 2025.
- Additional work as an ambassador for Middlebury Language Schools has included numerous appearances on recruitment panels and consulting. 2020-current.
Author and editor, Ford Motor Company Michigan Central Newsletter, detailing sustainability and social projects at the newly renovated Michigan Central Station in Detroit. 2022-current.
- Additional sustainability marketing includes messaging and consultation for organizations such as the crowdfunding platform Water Works Fund, home efficiency businesses such as Premier Home Solutions, and the Earth Day Foundation. 2019-current.
Founder, producer, and editor, Detroit Metrotimes Yearly Fiction Issue. Now in its seventh year, the newspaper takeover has distributed more than $200,000 to Detroit-area writers and artists to create works of art broadcast to approximately a million people yearly. 2020-current.
A $500 House: Rebuilding an Abandoned Home and an American City. Winner, Stuart and Vernice Gross award for literature, Kirkus starred review, many other accolades. Excerpt published in the Guardian. 2017.
"Make Sure You’re Helping: Experts, Solidarity and Effective Partnering with Locals," Book chapter. Can't Forget the Motor City: What Happens in Detroit Matters for the Urban World. Editor, Brian Doucet, Utrecht University. Published, Policy Press. 2017.
“Poletown,” Essay. The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook, Belt Publishing. 2017.
“Like Stones Dropped in a Pond,” book chapter. Detroit: An Archive of Experiences. Expodium, The Netherlands. 2010.
Literary representation by Jenni Ferrari-Adler of Aevitas Creative Agency. 2016-Current.

Select Longform, Magazine, and Feature Stories:

18,000-word feature forThe Ativist concerning the question of genocide in Tigray, Ethiopia. The story involved serious risk of life and freedom for participants. January 2025.
- Shortlisted, True Story Award.
- Citation, Overseas Press Club of America Awards.
- Winner, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Excellence in Reporting Award.
- Winner, reporting category, ASME National Magazine Award.
Former Rust Belt correspondent at the Guardian / narrative feature writer. Features include a look at how healthcare changes on the national level may impact people with developmental and cognitive disabilities, civil disobedience in response to mass water shutoffs in Detroit, and hitchhiking in search of the American man. 2016-2018.
Cover story, Samantha White, founder of Shakespeare in Detroit. Spirit Magazine. 2015.
Why I bought a house in Detroit for $500. Buzzfeed. Early viral longform story. At the time the most popular longform story in the history of BuzzFeed. The Atlantic Magazine called it one of the best stories of the year, and many articles were written about how this story proved audiences would read longform on their phones, among other accolades. 2014.
Profile, Joumana Kayrouz. Metrotimes. The local story was extensively cited in the greater Arab American community, the Arab Daily News saying it offered “rare insight.” The piece is still used by the Arab American National Museum for training and was cited by the New Yorker. 2014.

Select Criticism and Translations:

Multiple nonfiction book reviews for Publisher’s Weekly. 2016.
Wat ik leerde over Trumps Amerika toen ik naar de Republikeinse conventie liep. Feature, work in translation. De Correspondent. 2016.
Detroit is Meer Dan Ruiines. Feature, work in translation, Vers Beton. With Professor Brian Doucet. A short editorial with similar themes was also published in The Guardian. 2016.
Theater critic for The MetroTimes. Reviews include an influential piece on the Detroit premiere of White People, cited nationally, including in VOX. 2014.

Select Speaking Engagements:

The Idea of Home: Staying, Leaving, Going. Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia. With Rose Jarboe. At my invitation, Jarboe was the first trangender performer at the exceptionally important American historical site and meetingplace of the First Continental Congress. 2023.
Official TED Talk. The speech has reached more than 1.5 million viewers in nearly a dozen languages. Also featured on the TED Radio Hour. 2017.
Keynote lectures and readings have included Google, Leaders Quest, The National Writers Series, Little Rock Literary Festival, Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, an international book tour, and other readings at dozens of cultural institutions, libraries, and bookstores across the US and internationally. 2014-Current.
Multiple guest lectures on Detroit, US urban centers, and nonfiction writing at universities, schools, and educational institutions. Institutions have included The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Saginaw Valley State University, Oakland University. 2014-current.
Television and radio appearances include CSPAN, WGN, NPR, and international venues in Canada, New Zealand, and others. 2014-current.

Fellowships, Grants, Teaching, Awards:

Equity Based Operating Grant Awardee for Metrotimes Fiction Issue. Arts Midwest. 2025.
Kresge Arts In Detroit grant awardee for Metrotimes Fiction Issue. 2020-2024.
Kathryn W. Davis Fellowship for Peace. Middlebury College. 2019.
Oakland University. Instructor, 400-level journalism course, Freelance and Magazine Journalism. 2019.
Stuart and Vernice Gross award for Literature for A $500 House in Detroit. 2018.
Kresge Literary Arts Fellow. Yearlong award. 2017.
11th Hour Food and Justice Fellow. The University of California, Berkeley. Selected by Michael Pollan. 2016.
Republican National Convention Reporting Fellow. Belt magazine. 2016.
Program on Intergroup Relations, University of Michigan. Student Teacher. 2007-2008.
Winner, Gold Circle Award for journalism, Columbia Scholastic Press Association. 2007.

Film, Games:

Professional video game writing narrative mentorship program. Arena Net. 2021.
Fiction writer. London gaming company Shades of Vengeance. 2019-2020.
Co-writer, two feature-length film scripts, commissioned by Knagen Films. 2011-2014.

Formal Education:

Middlebury College Summer Language Program. Received full, merit-based scholarship as a Kathryn Davis Fellow in 2019. 2018, 2019.
BGS with service distinction from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 2004-2008.

Additional Experience, Board, and Professional Membership:

James and Grace Lee Boggs Foundation. Advisory Board Member. 2023-Current.
Dramatists Guild, professional member. 2020-current.
Founder, Joseph Campau Street Community Land Trust. 2020-current.
PEN America, Professional Member. 2017-2021.
Founder, organizer, and moderator of yearly Detroit series, “How to Publish a Book” featuring notable Detroit authors. 2016-2020.
Freelance Reporter, Detroit Free Press. While still studying in college. 2008.
News Reporting Intern, Bakersfield Californian. 2007.
Leadership board, Prison Creative Arts Program, University of Michigan. Elected. 2006-2008.
- Volunteer teacher in MI prisons as a member of Prison Creative Arts Project. 2005-2008.
Reporter, Michigan Daily newspaper. 2004-2008.