Hometown: Jamaica, N.Y.

Program: MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction)

Previous Degree: English and Art History Minor at Kenyon College

Why did you choose your particular program at Arcadia?

I chose the MFA at Arcadia because of the Edinburgh Residency, and also because of the low-res/virtual program model that allows for students with busy lives to get small doses of the traditional away MFA experience.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time here?

I hope to use the knowledge that I’ve gained at Arcadia to be a better storyteller and write stories that will inspire people. I truly believe that literature has the ability to change the world. Our voices shape history. I hope to add meaningful work to the cultural conversations of my time. During my time at Arcadia, I have gained a new level of confidence as a writer. My professors and classmates have been supportive and generous with their time, resources, and critiques. Here, I’ve found a community where we genuinely want to see each other succeed and grow, which I think is an excellent quality for an MFA program.

What do you do when you’re not in class?

More writing and reading! When I’m not publishing the work of Black women writers at my company, Spoken Black Girl, I work as the Web and Social Media Coordinator for Callaloo Literary Journal. Besides that, I’m a wife and mom of two beautiful children. I love nature and art museums. I enjoy traveling with my family and giving my kids new experiences.  

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?

I had an excellent time at the Edinburgh Residency. Scotland is full of writer culture, so any fan of literature will enjoy the way the program weaves the history of Scotland and Edinburgh with workshops on practical aspects of writing life. This was my second time studying abroad with Arcadia. I attended Queen Mary University of London through Arcadia’s program as an undergrad, and both experiences have been transformative and deeply enriching to my education.