Dr. Opyr holds a Doctor of Arts Degree from St. John’s University in English and American Literature, a Masters of Education in Counseling and Psychological Services, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from Springfield College. She has served the Sewanhaka Central High School District for the past 35 years and in 2008 became Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. She also is an adjunct English professor at Nassau Community College.
Dr. Opyr was the Visiting Poet in the 1999 – 2000 Writers Series at Roger Williams University and featured in the 2002 – 03 Poetry Series at Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. She also has served on the faculty of the New England Young Writers’ Conference at Bread Loaf. In April of 2001 the Suffolk County Legislature presented her with a Proclamation for her work.
In 2003 Dr. Opyr started a poetry workshop at the Elmont Library and has brought an appreciation of poetry to the residents of Nassau County who attend her biweekly sessions. The Elmont Public Library has received grants from Poets and Writers twice to offer a greater number of workshop sessions to its participants.
She has been a featured reader in poetry venues throughout Long Island including Cedarmere, the Walt Whitman Birthplace, the Amagansett Marine Museum, the Mid-Island Y JCC at Plainview and the Southampton Historical Museum.
Dr. Opyr is the author of six collections of poetry, including her most recent collection, If We Are What We Remember: New and Selected Poems. Her poetry has appeared in The Hudson Review, The Atlanta Review, The Paterson Literary Review, and The New York Times, as well as numerous anthologies and other journals, magazines and newspapers.
A life-long resident of Nassau County, Dr. Opyr finds herself inspired by the beauty of our entire Island, its natural wonders and human resources.
For more information about her current activities please visit Facebook, the internet or her website www.lindaopyr.com.