First-Year Writing Directory

holds a doctorate in creative writing (fiction), a master's in broadcast journalism, and a bachelor's degree in media and communication studies. She is originally from Islamabad, Pakistan, and has been living in Michigan for the last six years. She has experience working at the university writing center and teaching creative writing at the undergraduate level. Before that, she worked in media management back home. She loves to crochet, paint, and bake when she has the time.

first obtained her bachelor's degree and master's degree from Western Michigan University and then went on to obtain her doctorate in rhetoric and writing from Bowling Green State University. Suzan has worked as a public-school teacher for grades 7–12 and in writing programs at three universities, as well as in writing centers. After working as a corporate technical writer, Suzan is happily teaching in the First-Year Writing Program at Western Michigan University.

is a first-year graduate student who lives in Kalamazoo and is pursuing his MA in Literature and Language. In 2025, he earned bachelor's degree in English in the Humanities and Philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. His major interests in literature are British and American novels, particularly those from the Victorian and modern periods. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, sketching, and writing online film reviews on Substack.

is a writer, teacher, and musician from Kansas City. He's a first-year student in the Poetry PhD program at Western Michigan University, and he holds an MFA in Poetry from Wichita State University. His poems have been published in Door=Jar, Zaum Magazine, and Bicoastal Review. He was a finalist for the 2026 NaPoMo contest issue for Iron Horse Literary Review. He's super jazzed to be part of the First-Year Writing Program!

is a first-year MFA student concentrating on fiction. After earning a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Creative Writing from Millikin University, he played fullback on the college football team and served as editor-in-chief of Bronze Man Books Publishing Company. He spends his free time walking his hound mutt Seamus or napping with his tabby cat Gries. Find his work in Every Day Fiction and The Daily Drunk Magazine.

is a graduate student working on her MFA in Poetry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Spanish and minor in English with an emphasis on creative writing. Hannah is dedicated to pursuing a career in teaching at the college level as well as writing poetry books. Her first book Milk, Mess & Magic explores parenting and will be published in Spring of 2026. To find updates on her writing follow her on instagram: hannah_e_seelman

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 multi-genre writer working on her MFA in fiction at Western Michigan University. Previously, she earned a BS in Archaeological Anthropology and an MA in Religion from Andrews University. She spent a decade working as an academic copyeditor before transitioning into creative writing. Burton’s writing focuses on the more-than-human world, contested boundaries, and motherhood. Her fiction and poetry can be found in The South Carolina Review, 3Elements Review, 365Tomorrows, and elsewhere.

is a first-year graduate student in WMU’s Master of Fine Arts program. With an emphasis in poetry, he sees his role as a history keeper and storyteller for his family and the communities around him. Outside of writing, Jonathan is a musician who enjoys playing chess in the park, taking road trips, and cooking for friends after spending far too much time wandering through grocery store aisles.

is a PhD student in English at Western Michigan University, specializing in poetry. 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. Emily previously taught secondary education ELA. This year, she works as an assistant director of first-year writing. Her poetry has been published in the Walloon Writer's Review and Barstow and Grand.

is a part-time instructor in the English Department. She graduated from WMU with an MFA in Creative Writing, concentrating in Poetry, and served for two years as poetry editor for Third Coast Magazine. Emily's work can be found in The Penn Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, Waxwing, Porter House Review, Crab Orchard Review, and The Massachusetts Review, among others. For more information, visit www.emilyrdaniel.com

is a part-time instructor in the English department. She obtained her BA in English from Western Michigan University in 2015 and her MA in medieval literature from WMU in the Spring of 2019. She has been teaching in the English Department since 2017. Kat’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 PhD student in English studying poetry. She earned an MA in Literature (2024) and an MA in Creative Writing (2026) from Eastern Michigan University. She has taught creative writing to children and teens through InsideOut Literary Arts Project and 826michigan.

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.

is an MA student in English at Western Michigan University. He holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Grand Valley State University (2025). With a strong background in literary analysis and fiction writing, Jackson is committed to the humanities and intends to continue teaching in higher education while publishing his own creative work. His short fiction and poetry have been published in the Fishladder Art Journal.

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

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 PhD student in the English Department, specializing in medieval literature. Claire obtained her MA from Durham University and BAs in English and Philosophy from Belhaven University. Claire spent three years as a high school English instructor in Colorado and most recently taught as an adjunct instructor at Grand Rapids Community College. Her research interests include the Middle English mystics and the intersection of literature, language, and epistemology.

is a writer and MFA student from northwest Ohio. Her field of study is creative writing with a poetry focus. She is an associate director of the First-Year Writing Program and a poetry co-editor for WMU's literary magazine, Third Coast. She earned her BA in English from Capital University. Her work can be found in The Periwinkle Pelican, Planet Venus, 50-Word Stories, and other publications.

is a first-year MFA student with a focus in poetry. He holds a BA in writing studies and a BS in media production from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2024). His poems have appeared in Wilderness Literary Review, Prometheus Dreaming, Alternate Route, Exit This Way!, and New Growth Arts Review.

is an MA student at Western Michigan University. She received her BA in English Literature and Language from Western Michigan University in spring 2026. She serves as the co-president of WMU’s Alpha Nu Pi Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. She is the social media coordinator for WMU’s English Department and holds an internship at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center.

Born and raised in Italy, Stefania Malacrida earned a master's degree in philosophy and another in journalism. Her true passion, however, is writing. In her stories, she explores family, relationships between generations, and the long-term consequences of war and fascism, which her grandparents experienced in Italy during the 1940s. Humor, too, often finds its way into her writing, perhaps in homage to Dante's legacy: there is always a little comedy in tragedy.

is an MFA student in creative writing at Western Michigan University. He earned a BA from Michigan State University, where he received the Balocating Prize for Poetry. He brings professional secondary education, journalism, and advertising experience to the classroom.

is an MFA student in poetry at Western Michigan University. She is a poetry editor for Third Coast and an instructor in the First-Year Writing Program. She is from Portland, Oregon.

is a lyric poet, editor-in-chief of 149 Review, and a member of the editorial staffs of Poet Lore, Third Coast, and The MacGuffin. He won the 2026 Frostic Award in Poetry, judged by Jericho Brown, and his debut chapbook, “Dulled Bodies,” was a finalist for the 2026 Two Sylvias Press Chapbook Prize, judged by Kim Addonizio, and a semifinalist for the 2025 Iron Horse Literary Review Chapbook Prize. His website is donaldpasmore.com.

is a dedicated instructor who is committed to helping students reach their potential. He is a graduate of Western Michigan’s Medieval Institute with an MA in medieval studies, and is passionate about writing, literature, and history.

(she/they) is a second-year Poetry MFA student. Previously, she earned her BA at the University of Toledo in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Art and a certificate in Graphic Design. Sam's writing focuses on the oddities of life and how natural marvels have been consistently threatened by harmful movements in the name of progress.

is a third-year MFA student specializing in fiction. He received his BA in Professional and Creative Writing from Central Washington University. His stories explore small-town confinement, rural spaces, and the mundane as myth. His book reviews have appeared on Letras Latinas Blog 2 through the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He works as an associate editor at Poetry Northwest and a fiction editor at Third Coast.

is a PhD student in medieval English, with a specialization in Old English poetry. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from South Dakota State University. She is also a graduate teaching assistant at WMU and has received a Doctoral Scholar Award. Her scholarship has been presented at the 2025 conference for the Medieval Association of the Midwest and the 2026 International Congress on Medieval Studies.

is an MFA student, assistant director of first-year writing, and assistant editor of Third Coast Magazine at WMU with a concentration in fiction, focusing on psychological stories that incorporate elements of humor. Timmerman received his BA from Michigan State University, where he placed second in the 2023 MSU Creative Writing Awards under the category of fiction. Recently, his poetry has appeared in Cathexis Northwest Press (May-June 2025 issue). Alongside novels and short stories, Timmerman is an avid Manga reader, which often inspires his writing.

holds a BS in English literature and an MA in Creative Writing, both from Central Michigan University. Currently a third-year MFA candidate in poetry at Western Michigan University, Rob explores and engages in satire, social issues, animals, the surreal, and more. His work can be found in Central Review.

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.

is a second-year graduate student completing an MA in English. He holds a degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a degree in secondary education from Western Michigan University. Austin brings ten years of secondary teaching experience to the program. He is interested in connecting great literature to the realities of young people’s daily experiences to help them lead fuller lives. In his free time, he likes to play tennis and basketball.