First-Year Writing Directory

is a third-year MFA student specializing in fantasy and weird fiction. He holds a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and his work has been featured in the literary journal Midnight Chem. He also serves as an Assistant Director of WInklings and is a Fiction Editor at Third Coast, WMU’s graduate literary magazine.

is a graduate student working on her MFA in poetry. She earned her BA at Western Michigan University with a major in Spanish and minor in English with an emphasis on creative writing. Hannah particularly loves to write about nature and its relationship with modern day life.

is a writer and teacher from southern Indiana who earned her PhD in English from Western Michigan University in June of 2024. Samantha’s writing has appeared in literary journals such as Beecher’s Magazine, Booth, Tahoma Review, and Bayou Magazine. At WMU, she teaches composition and creative writing, and she is currently working on her debut novel..

is a second-year PhD student specializing in English Education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Hillsdale College and a Master of Arts in English from Grand Valley State University. With 30 years of teaching experience across public and private sectors in secondary and post-secondary education, Jeanette brings a wealth of knowledge to her studies. Jeanette has three grown children and enjoys traveling, snowmobiling, camping, and boating with her husband of 33 years.

Kyle Battle is an MFA candidate in fiction whose journey includes touring with a band as a teenager and working as a nuclear technician on submarines. With over five years of teaching experience, Kyle currently serves as an Assistant Director of First-Year Writing, building on his roles as Lead Instructor and Editor for organizations like the Telling Room. His creative pursuits extend to musical theatre, where he has worked as a librettist and composer, and his writing has been featured in outlets including Writer’s Digest, Vita Poetica, and more. Kyle's unique blend of expertise—spanning music, composition technologies, education, and various forms of writing—informs his approach to literature and pedagogy, making him a dynamic presence in both the classroom and literary world.

holds an MA in English Literature and a BA in English Literature and Language from Western Michigan University. Their research focuses on identity studies and rhetoric. Bollweg's teaching approach stems from a passion for education and fostering critical thinking in first-year writing students. Outside academia, Jamie is an avid gamer and enjoys creating ambient music and DJing.

is a part time instructor in the Department of English at Western Michigan University. With degrees in English education and educational leadership from WMU, Kalani brings 10 years of teaching experience in the secondary classroom to the program. When she’s not teaching, she is spending her time reading, gardening, and being a mom to her two young boys.

is a PhD student in poetry at Western Michigan University. She holds a BA in English literature, language, and creative writing (2021) and an MA in English literature and creative Writing (2024), both from Central Michigan University. This is her first year teaching at WMU.

holds an MA in English from Northern Illinois University and a BA in secondary education from from Western Michigan University. He serves as the content strategist in the Office of Marketing and Strategic Communications at WMU. Additionally, Adam is a comedy writer with work featured in McSweeney's and Slackjaw. He also hosts a nostalgia-based Home Improvement podcast that has garnered a loyal following, though it remains a passion project rather than a lucrative endeavor.

is a part-time instructor in the English department. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in English from Western Michigan University in 2015 and her Master’s in medieval literature from WMU in the Spring of 2019. She has been teaching in the English Department since 2017. Kate’s research interests include the morality of fairy magic in medieval romance, as well as analyzing young adult fiction through a medieval lens.

is a first-year English MA student. She earned a BFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in fiction and a minor in publishing from Emerson College. She is excited to be teaching first-year writing at Western Michigan University.

is a writer of queer horror, graphic narratives, and contemporary folklore. As an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University and Kendall College of Art and Design, he is passionate about working with growing artists and writers. Isaac holds an MFA in fiction from Western Michigan University and has a background in secondary English education.

currently teaches at Hackett Catholic Prep. A Western Michigan University alum, she earned her PhD in iterature from The Ohio State University and has over a decade of teaching experience at various institutions. During a nine-year teaching hiatus, Catherine worked in fundraising and donor relations at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Passionate about personal growth in students, she actively collaborates with colleagues to inspire young minds through the study of literature and the practice of writing.

earned his Master's in English from Western Michigan University in 2024, focusing on twelfth-century medieval romance poems and gender dynamics in aristocratic marriages. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in English, with an emphasis on medieval and early modern studies, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

is a Master of Fine Arts candidate specializing in fiction. As Assistant Director of First-Year Writing at Western Michigan University since Spring 2023, Helmbold demonstrates her leadership skills by developing curriculum, mentoring new instructors, and teaching various levels of first year writing. She has attended several writing and composition conferences, including Bear River Writers’ Conference and CCCC 2024. Helmbold's academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, earned with distinction and honors in political science, drama, and creative writing in 2020. Her diverse educational experiences inform her experience in both creative and academic settings.

is a first-year MFA candidate specializing in fiction, with a focus on queer narratives in fantasy. He received a BA from Winthrop University in 2019. When he is not writing, he can be found wandering through the woods, or playing video games.

holds a Master’s degree in English from Western Michigan University, where he studied creative writing. He has taught first-year college English at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, as well as English as a foreign language at Universidad Católica San Pablo in Arequipa Peru. When he is not writing and teaching English, he enjoys promoting the art of slacklining and spending time with his dog.

is a second-year PhD student in creative writing with a concentration in poetry. She earned her MFA in poetry from the University of Maryland in 2022. As a volunteer with WMU's Higher Education for the Justice Involved program, she aims to foster connections between university and community-based writers. Her scholarly and creative interests include women’s literature, verse novels, lyric essays, playwriting, and feminist horror comics.

is a third-year PhD student in fiction. She earned her BA at Haverford College and her MFA at Sarah Lawrence College. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Sophia lived in Islamabad, where she taught English and authored two novels: Dear Yasmeen (HarperCollins, 2016) and The Flight of the Arconaut (Red Panda, 2020). Sophia is an Assistant Director of First-Year Writing at WMU and the Managing Editor for Third Coast Magazine.

is a third-year MFA student in playwriting. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Communication and Journalism at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).  Méndez has spoken at FILIJ and FIL Minería book fairs in Mexico City. In 2023, she received an Honorable Mention at The Gwen Frostic Award for her play That Song of Us. Sofía also enjoys performing, which enriches her approach to playwriting. 

is a second-year MA student in English literature, specializing in medieval literature. His research focuses on Arthurian literature, particularly Welsh Arthuriana, examined through postcolonial and borderlands theoretical lenses. Hunter explores the adaptation of Arthurian tales between cultures, especially Welsh-English literary exchanges. In his first-year writing classes, he teaches a backwards design approach to writing, encouraging students to begin with their end goals and audience in mind, then write towards that specific goal and audience.

earned her MFA from Western Michigan University and her journalism BA from Michigan State University. She is a produced playwright, a published author, a longtime columnist, and a freelance journalist. Nicole has been teaching in the program since 2019.

is a part-time instructor for the English and Latin departments. She graduated with a Master of Arts in medieval studies in Spring 2024 from Western Michigan University. Rexing obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English and history from Hanover College in 2021. Her research interest is witchcraft in the medieval period.

is a part-time instructor who received his PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi’s Center for Writers. He serves as the poetry editor at Fairy Tale Review, and is the founding editor of Interpretations, an online journal that publishes undergraduate literary criticism.  He is the author of two chapbooks and a full-length collection, Agoreography, published by 3: A Taos Press. A third chapbook, The Orchid in Lieu of a Horse, is forthcoming from Seven Kitchens Press. He holds additional degrees from Oberlin College, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of Arizona.  

is a MFA student with a concentration in fiction and a focus on psychological stories with elements of humor sprinkled throughout. Timmerman received his Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University where he placed second in the 2023 MSU Creative Writing Awards under the category of Fiction. He also has an unhealthy obsession with the CBS reality television shows Big Brother and Survivor.

graduated from WMU in 2015 and earned a PhD from the University of Washington’s English Language and Literature program in 2020. His research focuses on the influence of science and urbanization on late 19th and early 20th century American literature.

is a first-year MFA student specializing in fiction. He received his BA in Professional and Creative Writing at Central Washington University. His stories explore small-town confinement, rural spaces, and the mundane as myth. His book reviews can be found on Letras Latinas Blog 2 through the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He also works as an Associate Editor at Poetry Northwest.

is a second year MFA student studying poetry. She received her Bachelor of Science in English education from Central Michigan University.

is a graduate of Western Michigan University, earning her PhD in English with a specialization in renaissance drama, particularly focusing on early modern insults. She has been teaching first-year writing for 8 years at WMU and at the University of Toledo. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing learners’ unique perspectives come through in writing and class discussions! Currently, she is an instructional designer with WMUx, where she helps instructors across the university.

holds a Bachelor of Science in English literature and a Master’s degree in creative writing, both from Central Michigan University. Currently a first-year MFA candidate in poetry at Western Michigan University, Watkins is dedicated to exploring and expanding the bounds of poetry. A passionate fan of the New England Patriots and the Detroit Tigers, he blends his love for sports with his literary and creative pursuits.

is a third-year Master of Fine Arts student at Western Michigan University studying creative writing with a focus in fiction. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Morehouse College. He is an Assistant Director of First-Year Writing at WMU and the Layout Editor for Third Coast magazine.