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Emma Merrick, 3rd year fiction student, read a section from her high-fantasy feminist thesis novel/project about a woman grappling with her religious identity in a world rich with mythology.
Emily Yandel, 2nd year creative nonfiction student, read from an essay about her time living in Japan, and the cultural understanding of women’s identities in Japan.
Shannon Virtue, 3rd year creative nonfiction student, read from a selection of her memoir/thesis project about her medical experiences and its impact on her identity, told through lyrical prose.
Jonah Stokes, 3rd year poetry student, read from a powerful selection of poems from his thesis project featuring recurring themes of slow-burn love, sexuality, and Tennessee nature.
Pilar Randolph, 2nd year poetry student, read from a selection of dream-like poems rich with themes of nature, life, and the beauty to be found between the world and its creatures.
Ben Clabault, 2nd year fiction student, read from a flash fiction piece about a young woman participating against her will in the Great Florida Python Hunt.
Brent Cronin, 2nd year creative nonfiction student, read from an autofiction project about house-sitting a cat in Seattle, and the disenchanting nature of attachment.
Ola ElWassify, 3rd year poetry student, read from her hybrid poetry thesis, including powerful poems about her Egyptian identity and femininity.
Ella Wisniewski, 1st year poetry student, read from a selection of poems about her experiences living in Ireland, and the scope of nature connected with the human experience.
M.S. Reagan, 1st year creative nonfiction student, read from an essay about living through an experience of a brutal tornado in Ohio, told with humor and brevity.
Camille Gazoul, 1st year fiction student, read from a short story about Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the temptation of want and knowledge, told through rich and lyrical prose.
Oliver Brown, 1st year creative nonfiction student, read from an experimental essay about reading a bedtime story to an imagined son via Zoom, through the lens of existentialism.
Winner Olubunmi, 1st year poetry student, read powerful, evocative poems about home, Nigeria, and the intrinsic nature of female relationships and connection.
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There is so much talent to be found in WVU’s MFA program! Keep your eyes peeled for the next MFA@123 reading, and plan to attend these amazing events and support our wonderful writers!