Hometown: Perkasie, Pa.

What graduate program are you in at Arcadia? English Dual Degree MA and MFA

Undergrad/previous degree details? Bachelor of English from Arcadia.

Why did you choose Arcadia and/or your particular grad program? I chose Arcadia because of my undergraduate experience. I was a non-traditional transfer student, and I found myself involved in so much more than I could have ever expected. I got to continue some of those things as I moved from undergraduate to graduate, and I got to work with a lot of the same professors who I’d really come to develop relationships with. I chose the dual degree program because it offered the chance to acquire two degrees and the opportunity to go to Scotland for one of the MFA residencies. Another factor is just the proximity to my home in Bucks County. The graduate program offers flexibility with in-person and Zoom classes, but I like to be in person, so Arcadia being easily commutable has been great for me. 

What have you gained during your time here? So far I’ve co-written a scholarly paper, gotten one piece of fiction published, led and helped develop a program for the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring, interned at the Center for Antiracist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action on campus, finished a full short story collection for my MFA manuscript, and I’ve recently joined a working group focused on AI literacy. I’ve also maintained a 4.0 GPA so far, and honestly, I’m really proud of it because I was never an academic person when I was younger. At Arcadia, I jump at any opportunity to expand on the skills I already have or learn new ones, and there’s always something available to me. I can also say that I’ve genuinely seen myself grow during my time here. There’s a real sense of community here. I made friends when I wasn’t even trying or expecting to. The professors I’ve had are great, and most of them are constantly looking for feedback on how to improve their classrooms and the overall student experience. 

What do you do when you’re not in class? I do a little bit of everything: gardening, kickboxing, hiking, traveling, reading, writing, cooking, researching, video gaming, and really whatever else I can do. I’m always looking for new experiences. For work, I’m a receptionist at a hair salon, and I’ve also begun teaching a first-year writing course this year. On campus, I work for the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring, and I do a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, really just whatever I can get my hands on. 

Post-grad plans: Once I get some real free time and I’m finished with school, I’m going to start working on a novel and getting more of my short stories published.