Current Graduate Students 

Austin joined the English MAs looking to professionalize further. Since then, Austin has “worn a number of hats”, engaging in various projects from his lab collaborations at the Confluence Lab where he wrote for the Idaho INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research) magazine, wrote video games developed by Polymorphic Games. He also participated in the Sasakawa Peace Tour 2025 in Hiroshima, Japan, where he became an Orizuru Fellow and won the JASSO Scholarship for his dedication to peace and sustainability. His research focus includes environmental sciences and narratology where he explores narratives that communicate issues impacting the environment. He currently assumes a Research Assistantship with IMCI (Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation) where he works directly with post-docs to polish manuscripts prior to publishing.

Baylee (Stafford) Bronnenberg graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Wyoming in 2024. Given her avid interest in reading, writing, and learning, she knew that she wanted to further her education, and a master's in English seemed like the perfect buffer while she decided between PhD, MFA, and law programs (and whether or not she wanted to pursue any of these routes). Baylee is especially interested in the intertwining fields of narratology, affect, and posthumanism as well as thinking about human relationships to the more-than-human world. During her time at the University of Idaho, she has been co-president of the English Graduate Association, served as a CLASS representative for GPSA and on several accompanying committees, taught multiple sections of Communications 1101, and pursued several publishing opportunities. When she is not at school, she is most likely visting her family, husband, and dog, Bean, at home in Cody, Wyoming. 

Hannah is a second year MA student from Putney, Vermont. Her master's research explores the potential for sediment to be read as a catalogue of nature-society relations in Glen Canyon, as well as the possibilities for multimedia mapping to render these relational histories visible. Hannah also currently serves as the English Graduate Association's co-president, as an instructor of first-year writing, and as a coach for the University of Idaho's Aerial Arts Club. Prior to beginning her master's degree, Hannah earned a B.A. in English from Middlebury College, worked as a high school teacher in Medellin, Colombia and Sandy, Oregon, and led watershed restoration and fire mitigation projects in Northern Arizona. When she’s not working, Hannah can be found hiking, skiing, fishing, or biking, usually with her dog Janey.

After completing his undergraduate in English, Alex continued at U of I to be one of two inaugural 4+1 degree candidates in the English Department. When not studying or working at the public library, Alex enjoys organizing, making art, and coming up with ideas for his memoir project.  He hopes to have the time to write it soon.  

Lexi Arritt-Edwards is a third-year M.A. English student. She works in enrollment marketing at the University of Idaho. In her free time, she enjoys binge-reading, hiking with her husband, and bothering her two cats, Ali and Simba.  

Annalise Mitchell is a first year MA interested in poetry, gothic literature, and the “canon” of literature. Her research aims to debunk and challenge the question, “What makes a ‘classic’ work of literature?” through various lenses of critical theory. After graduation, Annalise hopes to build a career in the editing and publishing field while publishing her own books of poetry. Outside of academia, Annalise enjoys rocking out to 90s grunge and nu metal, coffee walks with friends, and traveling to new places.

Victoria Kingsmore is a researcher and devotee of affect theory, queer/sapphic literature, and, most prominently, love. Originally from the Treasure Valley area, Victoria earned her BA in English at the University of Idaho in 2025 and simply wasn’t ready to leave the Palouse yet. Having worked in a variety of writing disciplines and tutoring/teaching experiences, Victoria returned for an MA to indulge her passion project of exploring what love is, how it feels, and why this major literary (and all-too-human) theme has eluded rigorous study. Alongside working as a first-year writing instructor and volunteering for the English Graduate Association, Victoria spends her time outside of class cross-stitching, journalling, and enjoying her ever-growing CD collection. At home, she has a sweet tuxedo kitty named Jane Clawsten, and she dreams of becoming a cat lady as well as a scholar and professor of literature. 

Aaron Lavery is an English MA interested in topics in the environmental humanities, especially in climate change, desert Southwest literatures, and nature writing as genre. He has previously studied the publications and archives of American environmentalist Bill McKibben. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and camping wherever possible, fixing bicycles, making pottery on the wheel, and baking. 

Emily LaGrone is a first year MA who loves to study the horror genre and American Literature. As a former graduate of U of I, and a proud alumnus, Emily is excited to continue her education and build a career in correctional education. While on the beautiful Palouse, Emily has worked as a campus tour guide, an orientation leader, an intern at Career Services, and a first-year writing instructor. In her free time, you can find Emily watching horror movies, cooking, listening to her favorite podcast Not Today, or crocheting! 

After graduating with her BS in English, Kacy wasn’t ready to be done exploring her interests in literary analysis, personal writing, and environmental humanities. She saw her professors teaching in the classroom with precise language, animated movement, and genuine care for their students, and asked herself—could I be like them one day? Through her master’s studies, she hopes to gain new ways of understanding the world and sharing those understandings with others, whether it’s through teaching, writing, or conversing. She has moved more times than she can count but has always lived in North Idaho. In her free time, she enjoys baking, video games, eating at restaurants, walking outside, yoga, journaling, reading, and exploring the lovely town of Moscow, Idaho that she calls home.

Callie is a research assistant for the College of Natural Resources and working in the Special Collections and Archives department while obtaining their MA in English. In their life outside campus they play music around town in their band, write poems, and make good food as a rockin' single parent.