M.A. Students
Sloan Criner
Sloan Criner grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before earning her B.A. in classics and English, as well as a minor in creative writing from Washington and Lee University. She graduated with honors in English for her thesis “Weaker Vessels,” her own work of literary historical fiction which she is currently querying to literary agents. Her research interests lie in female representation, the push and pull between objectification and autonomy which women’s identities experience in literature spanning from classical to contemporary. After obtaining her M.A. in English, she plans to go on to teach English at a high school level, where future English majors are made.
Deepali Dhiman
Deepali Dhiman was born and raised in a sleepy city in Punjab, India. The only thing she loves more than reading is discussing what she’s finished reading today. If you ever need to find her, just follow the sound of someone ranting about intersectional issues and women’s representation (or the lack thereof) in modern mainstream media.
Gwendolyn Elverson
Gwendolyn Elverson grew up in several states across the country, and in the United Kingdom, respectively. She received her undergraduate degree in English and History from Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia. Their research interests lie in the role of food in late 19th to early 20th century American literature with a focus on global, ethnic, and post-colonial implications. Gwen enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and boxing outside of class work.
Anja Hemesath
Anja Hemesath (she/her) is from Alexandria, Virginia, but now lives in Chesterfield, Virginia. She received her B.A .in English from Virginia Tech. Her research interests are contemporary fiction, body horror, and womanhood. She spends her free time knitting, drinking coffee, and making futile attempts to befriend neighborhood squirrels.
Maggie Kovick
Margaret (Maggie) Kovick earned her B.A. in English Writing, Literature, and Publishing from the American University of Rome. She now serves as senior editorial manager for Student Affairs Communications at Virginia Tech. She is excited to be pursuing her M.A. in English as a part-time student. Her research interests vary, but she always appreciates writing that deals in turmoil, absurdity, introspection, and cultural analysis.
Alifya Lotia
Alifya holds a BA in Comparative Liberal Studies from Karachi, Pakistan. She loves writing poems and then losing them, hoping someone, somewhere will find joy in her words. Words can fix broken worlds.
Emily Meade
Emily Meade is a writer from Christiansburg, Virginia. She received her B.S. in English (concentration in professional and technical writing) from Radford University and a publishing certificate from New York University in 2022. Emily currently works full time as the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech. When she isn’t freelance writing and reading books, she enjoys spending time with her golden retriever puppy, Mr. Darcy.
Darnell Pelzer Jr.
Darnell Pelzer Jr. was born in Queens, New York, and moved to Norfolk, Virginia at 10. He earned an honors degree in English from Washington & Lee University, double-minoring in Africana studies and journalism, with the assistance of a QuestBridge scholarship. His thesis and capstone show an interest in African American and postcolonial literature, pushed further by Arthurian and media studies. Other passions include video games, sustainability, and photography/videography.
Deirdre Price
Deirdre Price is from Loudoun County, Virginia, and she earned her B.A. In English and Theatre from Hollins University. Her primary areas of research are the Female Gothic and the American Gothic, with a particular focus on mid-century American texts. Other areas of interest include the Brontes, ecocriticism, local history and Appalachian Studies, Absurdism, and contemporary female playwrights. Outside of academics Deirdre can be found playing old-time and Bluegrass music, making coffee, and hanging out with her Boston Terrier, Leo.
Eliza Quesenberry
Eliza Quesenberry, a first-year M.A. in English candidate, was born and raised in Franklin County, Virginia. She has been cultivating a love of literature and writing for most of her life, earning a B.A. in professional and technical writing and an Honors Laureate diploma from Virginia Tech in 2025. Her scholarly interests focus on the role of religion in 19th-century literature. When she is not working on something school-related, she can be found singing, playing the piano, drawing, painting, or cuddling with dogs.
Isaac Riddle
Isaac Riddle (he/him) is a Confirmed Bachelor (of Arts) returning to Tech after graduating from the department of English in May 2022. His research interests focus on the intersections of media, popular culture, and critical theory, especially in how new forms of media like video games inform and display popular perceptions of and treatments toward minority groups.
Amanda Roberson
Amanda Roberson (they/he/she) is returning to Virginia Tech after graduating with their B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing in 2023. Originally from Mechanicsville, Virginia, she is excited to return to Blacksburg and pursue their M.A. in English. His interest lies mainly in LGBTQIA+ and women's literature with the goal of becoming a professor. When not reading, Amanda can be found running, baking, writing analytical essays about songs, and diving down obscure rabbit holes of fleeting fancies.
Olivia Skinner
Olivia Skinner is an MA student in the English graduate program.
Angela Lee Whitlow
Angela Lee Whitlow (she/her) was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. Before beginning her master's in English, Angela obtained an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Virginia Western Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Virginia Tech, where she double-majored in professional and technical writing and English. Her primary research interests are postcolonialism and magical realism, with a focus on how the two intersect. When not buried deep in her research and classes, you can find Angela reading fantasy novels, playing cozy video games, crocheting, and on local adventures with her husband.
Chris Yeung
Chris Yeung was born and raised in the Northern Virginia area. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Virginia in 2019, and was most recently a software engineer. Most of all, Chris has always loved the written word in all its forms from the day he could remember. He especially likes Russian classics and magical realist works ranging from Kafka to Murakami. Chris's current literary research interests in ecocriticism and postcolonialism are influenced by his passions outside of English: he loves the environment and exploring his Cantonese cultural background which has shaped him. When he is not reading a book, Chris enjoys creative writing, distance running, hiking, and dreams of one day climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. A fun fact about Chris: though he feels a close connection to raccoons, he loves squirrels the most and considers them to be his spirit animal.