Faculty, English
Evan Balkan is a professor of English and an endowed teaching chair at CCBC.
Evan Balkan has taught at CCBC since 2001, and it’s safe to say he loves the college. When he saw an opportunity to create a program most people associate with four-year colleges and universities, he thought—why not CCBC?
After a few years and a lot of hard work, he’s launching the first book from Compass Press, the nation’s only literary press housed at a community college. The press published its first title, Two Hearts, Two Mouths, by Reva Russell English, in January 2026.
Compass Press, named for the navigational device pictured in CCBC’s logo, is funded by the CCBC Foundation and designed to publish one book each year. Readers can order online, and the press prints paperback volumes on demand.
Balkan’s passion for books is personal. He has authored and published both fiction and nonfiction volumes, as well as numerous essays, short stories and screenplays.
Like so many CCBC initiatives, Compass Press is all about extending opportunity to everyone, not just a select group.
“I thought we could be a home for people who have really great work but are being overlooked by big presses,” Balkan said. “This is open to anybody.”
In the first round, Compass Press received 145 submissions from 35 states and 19 countries. CCBC students—including those in introductory English courses—do the first round of vetting. That means students from many different backgrounds and interests—not only English or creative writing experts—were reviewing manuscripts.
“They felt very empowered,” Balkan said.
Balkan teaches creative writing and screenwriting at CCBC, where he works to light a creative spark in students—even if an assignment like writing a film isn’t something they’ll do ever again.
He loves watching students of all backgrounds and ages learn to give and receive criticism constructively and with kindness. “If you can figure out how to say to somebody, ‘This is really great, and it could be better,’ that’s a good social skill,” he said.
His time at CCBC has been rewarding, and that goes back to the students.
“They seem to care about each other,” he said. “It’s a joy to be around nice people. I truly could not conceive of a better gig.”