Kansas State’s new English MA students come from all over the world and the United States. We can’t wait to start having conversations with them about everything from knitting patterns to weather forecasting to designing apps for celebrity musicians.
Name: Gabriell Padua (Gabe)
Hometown: La Puente, California
Alma Mater: University of California, Berkeley
Area(s) of Study: Filipinx-American Studies, Postcolonialism, Personal Identity
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: My mom had my name legally changed at 3 months old. That’s why I have two Ls in my name – it’s a long story.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! I wouldn’t necessarily want to be or live the lifestyle of Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby, but I would definitely want the financial security of Jay Gatsby.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? Before moving to K-State, I had worked my last semester as a TA at my old community college. Specifically, I had worked for an English class catered for students who were formerly incarcerated. As a part of the program, the students were granted a week-long trip in UC Santa Barbara the final week of the summer intersession. After working with these students all summer, it was so gratifying seeing these students accomplish so much and witness the type of opportunities that awaited them in pursuing their education. I’m proud of them, and I can’t wait to see the wonderful things they’ll accomplish.
Name: Beth Jones
Hometown: Shawnee, KS
Alma Mater: University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Area(s) of Study: English
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I spent almost three years living in Asia and now spend most of my time dreaming about traveling. That’s one of the reasons I love literature so much – it’s an easy way to travel on a budget. 😉
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! I would choose to be a vampire from any romance novel at all. It would have to be a romance novel because I’d want to be a broody, rich vampire with a secret heart of gold and not a monster vampire that scares everyone away.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? Spending time with my family has been really fun! I’ve also had the chance to hang out with fellow bookish friends and do some volunteer work at my local animal shelter.
Name: Mike McCoy
Hometown: Wichita, KS
Alma Mater: Wichita State University and The University of Colorado Boulder
Area(s) of Study: Creative Writing
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I once helped design an app for Shakira.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! Jake Epping from 11/22/63. Why? Time travel, baby!
What has been your best source of joy this summer? Kayaking in as many Kansas lakes and rivers as possible.
Name: Peter Strahm
Hometown: Sabetha Kansas
Alma Mater: Missouri Western State University
Area(s) of Study: English: Technical Communication
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I didn’t finish my four-year degree until I was 27.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! My favorites literary characters are usually somewhat of an anti-hero, characters I would shudder to live as but would like to be only briefly. I think I would have to choose Mr. Kurtz from Heart of Darkness. The character has fascinated me for years. I think it would be interesting to know how it feels to be so complicated, evil, competent, and so near death.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? My garden did fantastic. My family has been eating fresh produce all summer and shared a lot with neighbors as well.
Name: Destiny Munns
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Alma Mater: University of Florida
Area(s) of Study: English; Cultural Studies
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to hobbies. I love learning new things, especially making things. Over the years, I’ve tried knitting, crocheting, embroidery, sewing, baking, friendship bracelet making, jewelry making, etc. I’m definitely a master of none, but I’m rarely bored.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! Alanna of Trebond. She’s so cool and she can fight and use magic and has a talking cat! Life goals honestly.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? Knitting/crocheting in coffee shops! It makes me sound like such an old lady, but I’ve really enjoyed getting out of the house and creating things.
Name: Sierra Knipe
Hometown: Glenpool, Oklahoma
Alma Mater: Rogers State University
Area(s) of Study: Liberal Arts-English
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: A bit of interesting information about me is that I am a homebody and love to spend time inside with my cat, Timmy, and my fiancé, Ben.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? If I could be any literary character, I would be Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, because she is one of my favorite characters and I think I could make things turn out differently for her. She has so much more depth than people give her credit for, and I am really interested in her character and motivations. Plus, being in a Shakespeare play would be fun.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? My greatest source of joy this summer has been spending time with my sister, especially at Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour!
Name: Cosette O’Brien
Hometown: Colby, KS
Alma Mater: Kansas State University
Area(s) of Study: Cultural Studies
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I love playing video games on the Nintendo DS. It’s so nostalgic, and there are lots of hidden gems.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! I would want to be Jane from Jane Eyre! I love the story’s spooky yet pretty vibe.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? I worked on a project with my local museum to revitalize one of their exhibits. The exhibit isn’t done yet, but I got a lot of joy out of researching local history. I look forward to sharing cutting-edge research with the people in my community.
Name: Matthew White
Hometown: Melbourne, Florida
Alma Mater: University of Central Florida (2011) & Western Washington University (2023)
Area(s) of Study: Literature with interests in the long 19th century and Romanticism
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I spent seven years working as a weather forecaster in the Air Force.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe!
I would transform into the chronicler from the Kingkiller Chronicle series and complete the story.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? I enjoyed spending time with my family this summer. That and moving from Washington to Kansas. It’s been incredible here so far.
Name: Elizabeth Elliott (they/them)
Hometown: Kent, Washington
Alma Mater: Pacific Lutheran University
Area(s) of Study: Children’s Literature, Queer Studies, Critical Race Studies, Education, Social Movements, Knowledge Production, STEM education
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I am a proud plant parent to many a plant and I name all my plants. The longest plant I’ve been taking care of is over 10 years old (Chinese Evergreen) and her name is Linda. I’m not certain of her age, because before I started caring for her after my grandfather passed away.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe!
I would want to transform into Marin from Nina LaCour’s book We Are Okay. Every few years I’ve reread the book and currently her story is resonating with me. I am in an unfamiliar place and only starting to grapple with my experiences at home while haunted by a home that is no longer there. For Marin she’s struggling in the new environment but there is support and a peace made with home which I am yearning for in my own life.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? My best source of joy this summer has been the sunshine. I especially love laying in the sun because it feels like a warm hug.
Name: Rylie Morgan
Hometown: Irvine, California
Alma Mater: K-State!
Area(s) of Study: Creative Writing
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I’ve had my work published in a magazine for a charity event, and I’ve also published my own video game!
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! Falstaff. Like: He’s not a great human being, but also, he seems to be having the most fun of anyone in Shakespeare, and if it’s only briefly I can focus on the “carousing in an inn” part and not the “tragic rejection by his best friend” part.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? My cat and my wife in our lovely, air-conditioned home, as well as looking ahead to the fall semester!
Name: Zoey Dutcher
Hometown: Kansas City MO
Alma Mater: K-State
Area(s) of Study: Creative Writing & Literature
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: My second great love to teaching English is photography! If you need graduation, engagement, or any other occasion photos let me know.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! Aelin Galathynius from the Throne of Glass series! She is absolutely unhinged, and for that I love her.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? Spending time with my family.
Name: Margo Losier
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Alma Mater: University of Florida
Area(s) of Study: Cultural Studies & Poetry
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I write music! Have been writing since I was in the second grade, it’s been my favorite hobby ever since.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! I think I have to say Jo March, as she got me into the literary world as a whole. I love her tenacity and her opposition to traditional gender expectations. She’s so family oriented too, I think she exhibits such a beautiful mix of self-possession and external caring. Seeing Saoirse Ronan play her in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women definitely also reignited my love for her 🙂
What has been your best source of joy this summer? Spending time with my family and friends, traveling, and writing!
Name: Noah Jayne
Hometown: Manhattan, KS
Alma Mater: K-State! Go Cats!
Area of Study: Creative Writing
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I occasionally just break into character impressions for the fun of it, going as far as “practicing” monologues to myself as I’m writing. My Gollum voice tends to shock people.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! I think I would have to say Spider-Man for this one, even though he’s not a literary character in the traditional sense. Web-swinging would be hard to effectively use in Kansas, but there are enough alternative perks to make me still viable as a superhero vigilante.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? This summer I was on a cultural education trip to North Africa, and though it’s a little shallow, I enjoyed the food so much! Delicious! I ate everything with bread!
Name: Aimee Lamoureux
Hometown: New York/New Hampshire
Alma Mater: NYU & CUNY
Area(s) of Study: Creative Writing, Poetry
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I am a certified yoga instructor!
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! Do Greek myths count? If so, I would want to be Persephone, because she is both the goddess of spring and the queen of the underworld. Her power lies in duality and contradictions, which I really appreciate.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? My best friend got married! I got to the be the maid of honor, which truly was an honor. It was such a beautiful day filled with love and joy and celebrating with all my favorite people.
Name: Riley Dandurand
Hometown: Wichita, KS
Alma Mater: Kansas State University
Area(s) of Study: Bachelors in Education for Secondary English, Studying Adolescent Literature
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I lived in Düsseldorf, Germany for seven months.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! I would want to be Cassie Logan from Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry because she’s a strong female character who is on the front lines of social change and defiance.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? Reading and going to the lake as much as possible.
Name: Fortune Lavie
Hometown: Anloga, Ghana
Alma mater: University of Winneba — Ghana
Areas of study: Composition and Rhetoric
Please tell us something interesting/unique about you: I’m an incredibly ambitious young lady; purpose-driven, with a strong value system. I enjoy learning more about foreign languages, teaching, singing, and spending time with loved ones.
If you could transform briefly into a literary character, who would you want to become and why? You are banned, however, from mentioning anyone from the Harry Potter universe! I would want to become Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart (a novel written by Chinua Achebe) if I could transform briefly into a literary character. Okonkwo was a character who was portrayed as a productive, valiant, and courageous character who opposes vehemently anything that is against his values and principles. Though he met his tragic end, I admire the level of determination he showcased in fighting for what he believed in. This is the trait about him I admire the most and is the reason he is my favorite literary character.
What has been your best source of joy this summer? My best source of joy this summer has been spending time with my parents and loved ones. Since I was preparing to travel so many miles away from home to a different continent to study, I needed to create memories I could carry with me. Being able to achieve this goal his summer, has been one amazing moment for me.
K-State English 