M.A. Students

Profiles of the MA students in the English Department at the University of Louisville

Ariana Alvarado

 poetry | post-colonial literature | gothic literature

Ariana Alvarado is a MA student at the University of Louisville. She is a Louisville native and earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Creative Writing and Theology from Bellarmine University. Her poems have been featured by Sarabande Books, Cider Press Review, and Sanctuary Magazine, among others.

Her research interests include creative writing (specifically theological poetry), gothic literature, and post-colonial and Caribbean literature. When not writing, you can find her spending too much money on concert tickets, lying in the sun, or wishing she was traveling. 


Comfort Anafo

writing center studies | digital rhetoric | composition 

Comfort Anafo is pursuing an M.A. in English at the University of Louisville. She earned a B.Ed. in Arts, majoring in English, from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. Over the past seven years, she has been teaching. In her graduate studies, she plans to focus on digital rhetoric and writing studies. In her free time, she enjoys participating in community writing services and hiking. 

Abigail Anderson

feminist theory | queer studies | 19th century British literature

Abigail Anderson is a GTA and Master’s student at UofL, whose research interests include feminist studies, queer studies, and 19th century British literature and poetry. She graduated from Hanover College in 2021 with her Bachelor’s in English, a minor in Spanish, and a certification in secondary education. With her background in education, Abigail is passionate about the teaching of writing and literary analysis. In her free time, she enjoys embroidery, cross stitch, and, of course, reading. After teaching preschool for a few years, Abigail is excited to be back in the world of academia.

Cora Bidwell

                                                    

book publishing  |  21st century fantasy | environmental fiction

Cora Bidwell is a GTA pursuing her Master’s in English at UofL. A Louisville native, she graduated from Xavier University in 2024 with her Bachelor’s in English, and minors in Italian studies, psychology, and writing. While there, she worked as a tutor at the writing center and a copyeditor at the student-run newspaper. Cora’s research interests include book publishing, environmental fiction, and 21st century fantasy novels, with a focus on how writing can shape popular perspectives. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, creative writing, finding new music to listen to, and trying to crochet.

 

 

Giovanna Burkett

feminist literature | American literature | Twentieth-Century Literature

Giovanna Burkett is pursuing an M.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing. Originally from Bethesda, MD, she graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Hartwick College in upstate New York. In her free time, she enjoys reading manga, playing video games, and lounging with her tortie cat and corgi.

Carrie Callahan

Narratology Socioeconomic Class in Literature Speculative Fiction

Carrie Callahan is an M.A. student in the English Department. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in English with a focus in Creative Writing from the University of Cincinnati in 2013. She also earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Bluegrass Writers Studio at EKU in 2021, where she was a recipient of the Emerging Fiction Writers award. Her fiction has appeared in Writers of the Future Volume 35, Galaxy's Edge Magazine, and A Bit of Luck: An Anthology. Her research interests include Narratology, Socioeconomic Class in Literature, and Speculative Fiction.

Andrew Chapman

Community writing Creative writing Disability studies

Andrew Chapman is an English MA student with an emphasis in creative writing. He is a poet, songwriter, and music therapist who has coordinated the UofL School of Music’s Music Therapy Clinic since 2022. He has a passion for community music and writing practices, and his own writing interests include the representation of community and empathetic relationship through poetry and songs, informed by his background as an Appalachian and his lived experiences as a music therapist. He lives in Louisville with his wife and dog and has a deep love of campfires, conversation, and new music of all kinds.

Navah Chestnut

feminist theory AI rhetorics posthumanism 


Navah Chestnut is a MA student in English with a particular interest in rhetorical studies. They obtained dual bachelor's degrees in Rhetoric and Professional Writing; Humanities from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Navah is also deeply involved in cult awareness work, serving as the managing editor of the International Cultic Studies Association’s International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation. Their research interests include religious rhetorics, queer theory, postmodern philosophy, AI and posthuman rhetorics, and transgressive literature. 

Jennings Collins

they/them

American literature | Film Studies | Horror Genre

Jennings is a graduate teaching assistant who graduated from UofL in 2022 with a B.S. in Education. They look to continue their studies and research in genre history. Jennings hopes to take their graduate studies further into a research and teaching career. In their free time, Jennings writes extensively about film. They also love concerts and dabble in creative writing.

Shelby Cundiff

feminist literature | American literature | Twentieth-Century Literature

Shelby Cundiff, a Louisville native, is a M.A. student in English at the University of Louisville. She earned her B.A. in English at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Her interests include American and British women's literature during both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In her free time, she loves to read, write, color, and spend time with her friends and family.

Alexandria Degner

writing center studies | gothic studies | creative writing

Allie Degner is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Louisville, pursuing her M.A. in English. She received her B.A. in English and Writing from Olivet Nazarene University, where she also served as a teaching assistant and writing center assistant. She has worked as a research writer in the School of Medicine for the University of Michigan, as well as written for several nonprofit organizations. Her research interests include exploring themes in gothic literature, writing center studies and pedagogy, and using history to intersect with creative writing. In her free time, Allie enjoys playing her violin, cycling, and attempting to make really good food.

Mary Dudley

british literature victorian and romantic periods philosophy

Mary Dudley is a M.A. student from New Prague, Minnesota. She graduated from Creighton University with a B.A. in English and Philosophy. During her undergraduate degree, she spent a semester studying British Literature at the University of Glasgow. She is passionate about investigating the intersection of literature and philosophy in the Victorian and Romantic periods as well as the way in which literature both exposes and reinforces culture. During her free time, Mary enjoys road trips, hiking, spending time with friends and family, blasting One Direction, and exploring new coffee shops. 

Jolie Finley

gender studies | narrative theory | women's studies

JolieFinley is an M.A. student who is interested in contemporary fiction. She completed her B.A. in English and gender & women’s studies at Western Kentucky University. A Studio Ghibli enthusiast, she wrote her honors thesis at WKU about gender defamiliarization in the works of Hayao Miyazaki. In her free time, Jolie enjoys playing on her Nintendo Switch and beating her friends in Just Dance.

Kate Fisher

19th century poetry | screenwriting | thing theory


Kate Fisher is a graduate teaching assistant, pursuing her M.A. in English at the University of Louisville. She found a love for screenwriting whilst studying abroad in Budapest, Hungary, ultimately leading her to earn a B.A. in English at Western Kentucky University with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in Film. Kate’s passion resides in studying literature and poetry through the senses, not simply in one’s imagination. In her spare time, you can find Kate writing to her plethora of pen pals, practicing her stitching, playing guitar, and crafting poems. 

 

Ryder Guido

novella writing | magical realism | Roland Barthes's essay "The Death of the Author

Ryder Guido is a Masters student with a focus in creative writing. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in both English and philosophy from Belmont University. He has also worked as a publicist in the book publishing industry. His current research interests include novella writing, magical realism, and Roland Barthes’ essay “The Death of the Author”. 

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Caden Holbrook

contemporary literature | critical theory  | literary theory

Caden Holbrook is a graduate teaching assistant pursuing an MA in English at the University of Louisville. He earned a BA in Philosophy and English with a track in creative writing from the University of Louisville. His research interests include contemporary literature and literary theory, critical theory, and the role of digital communities in driving new forms of literary expression. He is a Louisville native and hopes to purse a PhD following his MA.

Sophia Lyons

Classical Rhetoric | Modern Epistemology | Identity Politics

Sophia Lyons is a graduate teaching assistant pursuing her Master’s in English with a focus on emphasizing classical rhetorical theories to explore the interweaving of modern epistemology, evolving social dynamics, and identity development. She earned her B.A. in rhetoric and composition with a minor in strategic communications at Ball State University, where she also worked as an Academic Peer Mentor in the Humanities Living Learning Community and Outreach Manager for the College of Sciences and Humanities. Sophia enjoys attending music festivals and Lou City games, reading long books, and taking pictures of her cats, Izzi and Scorpius.

Akira Mattingly

creative writing | interpretive theory | feminist rhetoric

Akira Mattingly is a M.A. student pursing a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing. She previously earned a B.A. in English with minors in creative writing and philosophy from University of Louisville. During a brief hiatus from academia, she kickstarted her professional career drafting and editing legal documents at a law firm and then ventured into fundraising. Her current research interests focus on aesthetics, specifically interpretative theory, and the application of concepts of New Historicism in the analysis of literature and poetry. A self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady,” in her free time, she enjoys reading webcomics, playing video games, and cuddling with her four sweet cats.

Barbara "Krissy" McIntosh

literary tropes | genre conventions | creative writing

Krissy McIntosh is working toward a M.A. in English at UofL. She graduated from UofL in 2022 with a B.A. in English, minoring in Creative Writing. During her undergraduate career She was able to spend some time acting as a student editor for Miracle Monocle. She intends to focus her graduate studies on literary composition and creative writing genres. 

Abigail Pieczynski

narrative and rhetorical theory | copy editing | Romantic literature

Abigail Pieczynski is currently working to earn her M.A. in English at the University of Louisville. She earned her bachelor's degree in English at Georgetown College before taking a three year break from her schooling to raise young foals on a thoroughbred farm and tutor students from preschool to early college. Abigail’s interests lie in copy editing, narrative and rhetorical theory, and Romantic literature. In her spare time she enjoys reading, horseback riding, and reviewing bad movies with her friends.

Jameson Reid

creative Writing  | digital rhetoric | writing pedagogy

Jameson Reid is an M.A. student in English. He graduated with a B.A. in Media Study, a minor in Computer Science and a certificate in Creative Writing from the University at Buffalo. He sees this program at the UofL as an opportunity to explore whether he will pursue an MFA in Creative Writing or a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition in the future. In his free time, he enjoys creating digital art, getting involved in creative writing communities, and watching basketball. 

Maggie Rose

identity and writing | composition pedagogy | writing center studies

Maggie Rose is pursuing an MA in English. She graduated with honors from Aquinas College with a BA in English with a Writing Emphasis, and she minored in Music and Irish Studies. While earning her BA, Maggie trained and worked as a writing center consultant for three years. After graduating, Maggiespent nearly three years working as a consultant at Mid Michigan College's Writing and Reading Center. Her research interests include identity and writing, composition pedagogy, and writing center studies. In her free time, Maggie enjoys rollerblading, writing poetry, singing and playing ukulele, and spending time with family and friends.

Elizabeth Roth

storytelling | rhetoric in society | contemporary literature

Elizabeth Roth is pursuing her M.A. in English while at UofL as a GTA. She earned her B.A. in Creative Writing from Western Kentucky University. Elizabeth completed an honors thesis at WKU, which exploresthe intersection between education, censorship, and a psychological response to danger. She hopes tocontinue that work while at UofL. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hiking, listening to audio dramas, and reading any horror fiction she can get her hands on.

Emily Sledge

cinema & media studies multimodal pedagogy disability studies 

Emily Sledge is pursuing her Master of Arts in English. Emily is a Graduate Assistant working in the University of Louisville’s Employee Success Center. A bluegrass poet & screenwriter, she hails from Kentucky and obtained her Bachelor of Arts from UofL in English (Creative Writing) and Film Studies & Production in May of 2024.


Lauren Tweedell

public and community writing | creative non-fiction | composition studies

Lauren Tweedell is an M.A. student in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Louisville. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and is originally from Quincy, Illinois. Lauren is passionate about writing with marginalized communities and the role that storytelling and creative non-fiction can play in self-discovery and crafting one’s identity. In her free time Lauren enjoys baking, being outdoors, serving at her church and spending time with friends and family. 

Charlie Ward

feminism | anti-imperialism | horror

Charlie Ward is an English MA student with a focus in the attitudes toward women in contemporary literature, as well as class-focused analysis. They earned their BA at the University of Louisville as well, and they are enjoying the shift in content. In their free time, they enjoy horror movies and playing the Sims.

Terrance Williams

20th Century American poetry | short Stories  | creative Writing

Terrance Williams comes from Northern Kentucky. With a passion for literature, he's working toward obtaining his Master's in English. He completed his B.S. in marketing and graduated from Georgetown College in 2020. Upon obtaining his M.A. he wants to use his degree to become an editor. In his free time he enjoys reading, listening to music, and going on walks.