Amy Wooten graduated from IWU as an English Education major. She hopes to acquire a job, then go out into the world and empower young minds in the English subject. She will also buy a dog at some point. Her favorite thing about MLL is that it cultivated a community that she continues to cherish.

Mickey Veach graduated from IWU with a Bachelor's degree in writing. He is what one would call a sweaty nerd, spending 90% of his time watching and fantasizing about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel movies, while spending the other 10% wondering what his life is gonna look like beyond college. 

Caitlin is a senior Strategic Communications and Writing student from Knoxville, Tennessee. She's passionate about education and advocacy, design, and business development. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, listening to podcasts, and hiking in the Smokies. Caitlin hopes to work in a PR agency, business consulting firm or in a creative project management position after graduation. You can probably find her at a coffeeshop drinking way too much coffee, making detailed to-do lists and dreaming up her next travel plans. 

Carolyn Kroeker (then Garber) graduated from IWU in 2020. One of her senior portfolio pieces is featured on Sylva. 

Alyssa Yoquelet is a senior English Education major with a minor in Christian Education. She is from northeastern Indiana and intends to pursue a teaching career in the same area after graduation. Her writing focuses on literary criticism, analysis, and interpretation. Alyssa finds that exploring literature in this way allows her to experience literature and life more fully. When she is not writing, she is reading, watching movies, and/or petting dogs.

Jonathan Young graduated from IWU in 2020. One of his senior portfolio pieces is featured on Sylva. 

S. V. Mariano is a published author out of Ohio and Senior of Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. He has self-published his own book and been published in Barren Magazine which led to a nomination for The Best Flash Fiction of 2018. As of now, he continues to find where home is as he continues to venture further into adult life.

Kaylee Isenhart is currently studying photography with a minor in journalism at Indiana Wesleyan. This is her freshman year of college and she wishes to become a fashion photographer. The photo featured is of a dress she designed and made for the Marion Made fashion show.

Lilian Vermilya is a sophomore graphic design major, and photography minor at IWU. She is from a small town in Northern Michigan, where her loving family lives. She has always been a lover of art, and she typically finds herself dipping her toes into its varying disciplines: drawing, painting, photography, digital design, and printmaking. To Lily, art is just a place to explore; and a place to be her full authentic self.

Hannah Ziebarth is a sophomore studying elementary education. She loves uninterrupted spans of time to write, the combination of Chacos and hammocks, and spending the day hiking. She's passionate about kid's ministry, finding and sharing good stories, and ice cream.

Hadyn Burrell is a freshman photography major at Indiana Wesleyan University. She loves spending time with friends and taking impromptu trips to Dan's Variety Donuts. She also loves to travel and go on adventures with her family, including her dog Harley.

Isabel Bostick is a sophomore at Indiana Wesleyan University, where she majors in English, writing, and Honors Humanities, and minors in political science. She loves the color dandelion yellow, the smell of a new box of crayons, and laughing with her family.

Emily Bays is an English/Writing/Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University. She has been writing since she was five years old and wrote her first novel when she was 12. When she is not reading or writing, she enjoys drumming and practicing archery. She is also the proud owner of a fluffy cat named Luna.

Kendra Christy is a studio art major with a concentration in painting. She plans on having a career in special effects makeup. When she is not creating some type of art piece, she can be found binge watching Netflix or cuddling with her dogs.

Olivia Cheney is a freshman English major who enjoys drinking tea and baking bread. She spent over 6 years living in Southern Africa, and considers eSwatini home.

Karissa Uhlig is a senior English and writing major at IWU who enjoys ballet dancing, singing, and watching I Love Lucy reruns with her family. She is also pursuing a Spanish minor. If you’re looking for her on campus, you can usually find her with Mountain Dew in hand and possibly the occasional taco.

Audra Frieden has been studying design for social impact and graphic design for the past year and a half. She has fallen more and more in love with designing and creating through that process even though it can be extremely frustrating and time-consuming sometimes. She has so much more to learn, but she is thankful for the opportunities she has had so far to be able to create and learn in this field.

Allis Trauffer is a computer science major at Indiana Wesleyan University in her third year. She loves her courses and her job at the Jackson Library but also loves putting that aside at the end of the day to play with her two pet rats, Shina and Tilly. She loves winter, biking, and writing songs and poetry.

Sadie Pugh is a junior English education and writing double major at Indiana Wesleyan University. She enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends and family, and sitting down with a good book.

Hannah Gjertson, a graphic design and writing junior, collaborated with Daniel Ballance, a graphic design and photography junior for these pieces. Gjertson wrote the pieces, titled He, and designed the layout using images from Ballance. The writings are inspired by the men in Ballance's images. The two wanted to display the idea of "Imago" through language, photography, and design.

Hannah Gjertson, a graphic design and writing junior, collaborated with Daniel Ballance, a graphic design and photography junior for these pieces. Gjertson wrote the pieces, titled He, and designed the layout using images from Ballance. The writings are inspired by the men in Ballance's images. The two wanted to display the idea of "Imago" through language, photography, and design.

Eily Hite is a senior theatre major at IWU. She enjoys coffee, scary movies, and reading! After school, Eily will be heading to the East Coast to audition.

Hannah Heilman is a freshman creative writing and Christian ministries double major. She plans to become a published author, writing young adult novels. Additionally, Hannah was called into ministry to become a pastor and is a part of the Kern Ministry Program at IWU; this program will allow her to earn her master’s degree in practical theology.

Ryan Cooney is a sophomore at Indiana Wesleyan University and a biochemistry and economics double major with a minor in political science. He plans to pursue cancer research and hopes to become the next Julia Child. His family and friends are two of the most critical parts of Ryan’s life. Ryan is no doubt a renaissance man as he plays the cello, keeps bees, loves to cook, and enjoys traveling.

Kailey Warner is a senior English/writing major. She enjoys eating watermelon and looking at the stars, ideally at the same time.

Janie Adams is a senior double major in English and writing. She would describe herself as a New Girl enthusiast, a half-hearted plant lover, and a cynical-but-dedicated user of essential oils. You also might find her attempting to crochet. Janie enjoys reading poetry out loud with others who appreciate it, and she hopes to continue her journey as a writer by creating a space of pondering and empowerment with those around her.

Carly Baumgartner is a senior studying Strategic Communication and Media Communication. She enjoys graphic design, reading, and engaging with the type 1 diabetes community.

Austin Hendricks is a senior theatre and writing major at Indiana Wesleyan University. He finds that writing is one of the best ways to express himself. When not writing, Austin is usually working in the theatre, attempting to find his light.

Anna Ortmann is a senior from Kokomo, IN studying Worship Arts & Music Ministry, and Graphic Design. Poetry and writing have always been a side interest of hers and she appreciates the times she finds to explore them further. The inspiring thing about words to Anna is the way you can fit them together to explain things that seem unexplainable.

Charissa Pierre is a bilingual, third-culture kid with more than one place to call home. She is a lover of stories, words, songs, and people. On any given day, she would rather skip the small talk all together. (Really, she always has a deep question she's curious to ask.) Anyway, you can probably find her listening to musicals, boarding a plane, or talking about the Enneagram.

Brittany Pyle is a junior at Indiana Wesleyan studying English and Writing. After graduation, she hope to work as an editor or assisting with bible translation. She enjoys reading, playing board games, and hanging out with friends.

Claire is a senior English and Honors Humanities major from the Chicago suburbs. She primarily writes about social issues, particularly sexual assault and the impact it has on its victims and society. In her “spare time” she likes reading (especially poetry) and watching Disney movies (especially Hercules), and is hoping to publish her own poetry collection this year. Right now her passions include knitting, juice boxes, and planning her upcoming trip to China.

Alyssia Vanderlaan is a Writing and Honors Humanities double major with a minor in Business Administration at IWU. She is not sure what her dream job is; however, she looks forward to using her skills in many different positions and potential careers. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with friends.

Shelby Bond is a junior at Indiana Wesleyan University studying elementary education and language arts. A Grand Rapids native, Shelby loves exploring new places and spending her time outdoors, whether that be kayaking on Lake Michigan or traveling around the world. While reading is her first love, she enjoys writing as a means to help better process the range of experiences and emotions encountered in life.

Andrea Munroe is a freshman Computer Science major and Honors College student. She loves making people laugh and would rather watch the rain than do her math homework, although she often has to compromise between the two. In her spare time, she collects C.S. Lewis books and contemplates the fabric of the universe. She currently aspires to publish the book she has in the works.

Emily Dexter is a freshman Writing and Honors Humanities major with a minor in Spanish. She enjoys reading, knitting, and saying hello to all of the cats.

Mollee graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in December of 2017 with a Bachelors degree in Writing and English. Currently living in Bloomington, IN, she enjoys writing, binging Netflix shows, and reading everything she can in her spare time. She hopes to become a novelist someday.

Emma is a Junior Spanish Education and Writing double major at IWU. She is from Indianapolis, but spends her time on campus drinking coffee, reading, writing, and "oohing" and "awing" over pictures of her cat.

Kendra Housel is a graduate from Indiana Wesleyan who majored in English and Honors Humanities. She has worked as a published writer for the past three years for IWU’s alumni association and is currently serving as the writing intern at World Gospel Mission.

Nick Rassi lives in downtown Indianapolis with his boyfriend, Nic, their two cats, Eevee and Marlie, and their best friend Lauren Sawyer. He is currently the manager of Silver in the City in Carmel, one of the Indianapolis area's top-rated local shops. Eventually, he would like to run a 10K.

Lauren D. Sawyer lives in downtown Indianapolis with two cats and two guys named Nic(k). She works as a freelance transcriptionist and spends half her weekends in California, visiting her boyfriend. Lauren holds an M.A. in Theology and Culture and will begin a Ph.D. program in Christian Social Ethics at Drew University this fall.

Hannah Ozmun is a December 2015 graduate of the Writing program and the John Wesley Honors College at Indiana Wesleyan. After AmeriCorps, she hopes to pursue doctoral studies in English and teach university courses in writing and literature. She and her husband​ live in Louisville.

Dave Priest is a writer based in Louisville, KY. You can read his articles on pop culture, movies, and technology at CNET.com. You can read his fiction in print and online at Blotterature, Five on the Fifth, and Transect Magazine. Dave lives with his wife, Lindsey, and son, Idris. They are all awaiting the arrival of the fourth member of their little family in July.

Rachael Johnston, a freelance writer and editor, is the managing editor of the parenting website Mumbling Mommy (www.mumblingmommy.com). She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Writing from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2002 and worked as a newspaper editor before her children were born. She enjoys live theatre, cooking, and gardening, and she dreams of keeping chickens in her suburban backyard. She lives in the St. Louis area with her husband and two daughters. You can contact her by emailing rachael@mumblingmommy.com.

Mary works at Brookville Road Community Church, where she leads children's ministry and women's ministry. She is the author of She Won't Shrink Back: A Story of Building & Believing. You can connect with Mary at marynolen.net.

Megan grew up on a small farm in southern Indiana. After earning dual English and Writing degrees at IWU, she relocated to southeast Michigan to work as a copywriter. In her free time, she enjoys hiking local trails, horseback riding, and taking pictures. She loves visiting Indiana to see her niece and her horse, Chance. Megan also writes Earthworms https://megzilla99.wordpress.com/, a blog about hope, security, and God.

Luke Garfield graduated Indiana Wesleyan University in the fall of 2016 with a bachelors degree in Writing and TESOL. He is currently a Peace Corps Volunteer stationed in the island country of Comoros off the eastern coast of Africa. Luke enjoys sitting on his roof watching fruit bats swarm at sunset because they’re awesome.

Allison Clark is a ‘12 IWU alum with a BS in English Education and a minor in Honors Humanities. She was the first English major to complete the Mary C. Dodd Honors Program through the JWHC. Since graduating, she has taught high school English and currently works at a museum and cultural center in Muncie, where she lives with her husband Brian, who pastors and teaches theology, and their two cats Boots and Soren (Kierkecaat).

Shelbi Tedeschi (Favre) graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with an English and Writing double major. She's now a graduate student in the Creative Writing program at Ball State University. She writes creative nonfiction and hopes to publish a memoir one day.

Jamie Tews is a sophomore English Education major. She loves peanut butter and enjoys listening to podcasts. After graduation, she plans to be a high school English teacher in Appalachia.

Dr. Mary Alice Trent is currently Professor of English and the Chair of the Division of Modern Language and Literature at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, USA.  She is the Founder and Past Chair of the Conference on Christianity, Culture, and Diversity in America. Along with a number of journal articles and poetry and story publications, Dr. Trent has edited the book, Ethics in the 21st Century America in 2005 by Pearson Longman in Boston/NYC.   She has also co-edited The Language of Diversity, published in 2007 by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in Newcastle, England; and Religion, Culture, Curriculum, and Diversity in America, published in 2007 by University Press of America in Lanham, Maryland. She is the co-editor of Cultivating Visionary Leadership by Learning for Global Success: Beyond the Language and Literature Classroom, published in 2015 by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in Newcastle, England.  She has presented at more than 60 regional, national and international conferences. Moreover, she has taught as a visiting professor at LCC International University during the Summer English Language Institute in Klaipeda, Lithuania; and she has taught at Beijing Union University in Beijing, China, where she taught a lecture on the American Harlem Renaissance.

Olivia Jocson is a sophomore writing and strategic communication double major. She always has a tube of Burt’s Bees in her pocket, and she often has a can of La Croix in her hand. When she graduates from IWU, Olivia hopes to work for a publishing house or a public relations firm; above all else, she hopes to have her own dog.

Madeline Meiers is a senior Honors Humanities and English major. After graduation, she hopes to move to Denver with her friend and save money to travel the world. She is looking forward to choosing her own books to read and continuing to write.

J. M. Butler is an author, attorney, and adventurer who adores writing speculative fiction, especially high fantasy. She graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2009 and went off to law school where she met and married James Fry. Then they returned to Indiana where they started their own firm. Together they serve in their church’s youth group and search for new adventures and great new stories wherever they can.

You can get updates about J. M. Butler’s stories and her work at www.jmbutler.org, and if you’d like to chat, talk stories, or ask questions, feel free to drop her a note

Christin Taylor is the chief editor of the Annesley Writers Forum.  A '02 alum of IWU, she went on to get her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University of Los Angeles and is beginning a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition this fall at University of Waterloo. She lives in New Hamburg, Ontario with her husband and their two school-aged kids where milk comes in bags and money looks like the rainbow. You can read more about her writing at www.christintaylor.com.