Class of 2015, BFA in Creative Writing, BA in English Literature

What was your favorite part of studying Creative Writing at UE?

Studying Creative Writing at UE is never just about going to class, writing papers, and taking exams. It's about finding what you want to do with the skills that you have, this craft that you love, and experimenting. I was a part of The Evansville Review all four years at UE, from a fledgling reader my freshman year to Editor-in-Chief my senior year. I learned how a literary journal was put together—the culling of the slush pile, the weeping over that perfect poem, the acquisition of attractive cover art, the formatting of the journal itself…the list goes and goes. What I learned from this was invaluable, so much so that it translated quite nicely into the job I have now (see d). So, short answer: there is an abundance of activities to be done in this program, and I found the one I would call home.

What did you experience in UE' s CRW department that feels special/unique to our program?

The professors. Not so much an experience, but the professors really made the creative writing department special. They pour their souls into what they do—they're active participants in the craft, and they want you to succeed. With other programs, you'll easily get lost in the shuffle, but here, your words are read, discussed, and discussed again.

What was your favorite Creative Writing class and why?

I would say my favorite class was either Apocalyptic Writing with Paul Bone or Mystery Writing with Bill Baer. I'm a sucker for genre fiction (also a great class with Rob Griffith!). Being able to hone in on specific genres for an entire class was fantastic and helped to disprove the stereotype that genre fiction somehow isn't "literature" or "good enough" to be studied.

What are you up to now?

I am currently a Journal Manager for Graphic World in St. Louis, MO. Essentially that means I monitor the process of academic publication, from the moment an author submits a paper to that paper appearing online or in print. Most of the journals I manage are scientific/health related, so there isn't much room for creativity, but I'm loving it! It's exposed me to the scientific side of academic publishing, and who doesn't want to look at pictures of a person's insides (or outsides) every day?

I am very much still writing! One of my bigger projects is an offshoot of a collection of short stories I began while I was at UE. I'm also trying my hand at nonfiction, which I only dabbled in while at school.

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