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STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY

We believe our Program is made stronger by the diverse communities that call our nation home. We recognize the cultural, artistic and economic contributions of immigrants and refugees. We cherish and will defend fundamental Constitutional rights, like due process and religious freedom that are foundational to our democracy. We stand in solidarity with immigrants and refugees and indigenous and marginalized people, our neighbors, friends and family members.

Our Students

Emily Alexander, Poetry '19 Emily is a writer, a clumsy waitress, and an overly enthusiastic foodie. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a BA in English and spends her free time knitting and reading about the Enneagram.

Dee Allen-Kirkhouse, Creative Nonfiction '19 Dee is working on a collection of essays about growing up in Crockett, California during the 1950’s and 60’s. An adjunct professor of English at DVC for over 25 years and a freelance journalist; her work has appeared in Runner’s World, Diablo and a variety of other magazines.

Brian Barrientez, Fiction '18 Brian (allegedly) sold poorly drawn comics in elementary school and junior high for 25 cents, and has aspirations of selling full-length novels for more.

Darrion Theodore Carlyle, Fiction '19 I am Darrion Theodore (@theodoreaux), I was born and raised in LA, I like cats and socks and run-on sentences, I cook food for thought, roses smell me, and "the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." (Psalm 138:8 KJV)

Michael DuBon, Creative Nonfiction ‘19 At his most natural, Michael DuBon is always laughing and smiling. He hopes to share the smiles and laughter through his writing. He received his BA in Spanish and English from the University of Nevada, Reno. He keeps busy all day, and winds down with comic books and video games.

Guy Duran, Creative Nonfiction ‘19 Ever since 6th grade, Guy Duran wanted to be a writer. He also wanted to live forever. His love for music is unwavering and his heart is full of passion. When he isn’t rocking out on his Bass or writing about the world around him, you can find him either outside hiking in Mother Nature or rock-climbing at his favorite gym.

Jordan Galerkin, Fiction ‘19 On career day in first grade, Jordan dressed as a writer in a striped turtleneck and overalls with a pencil tucked behind her ear. Although her fashion sense has changed, her career goals haven't. Jordan gets some of her best ideas at night while walking her cat Beyoncé.

Anna Harmon, Poetry ‘18 AC Harmon is a second-year poetry student and senior poetry editor for MARY: A Journal of New Writing. In her poetry, she discusses themes of mental illness, lesbian womanhood, anti-fascism, and violence. She teaches college-level English composition and fosters a weakness for all things Batman-related. She is originally from the Central Valley.

Philip Jacobsen, Fiction ‘18 Philip grew up in the San Bernardino Mountains where he hated reading. He now has a B.A. in Literature, works in two books stores in San Francisco, and rarely leaves home without a book.

Julie MacKay, Poetry ‘18 Poet/ former English teacher/ amateur Oneironaut. Occasional hair stylist for fun, can generally be spotted trolling about San Francisco. Fond of obese cats and pickled things. Ennamored with questions and prose poems. Especially questions within prose poems.

Zoë Malia Ozoa Loos, Creative Nonfiction '19 Hi! I'm Zoë and I am a first year student studying Creative NonFiction Writing. I am so honored and privileged to be here and to learn more about writing while being surrounded by gifted peers and teachers. Getting my undergraduate degree from SMC in Environmental Studies and Ethnic Studies was absolutely essential to my growth as a engaged member of the world and now I am lucky enough to learn how to as James Baldwin says much better than I could, "alter, even but a millimeter the way people look at reality" and therefore try and change it.

Tamara Miller, Poetry '18 Tamara Miller writes gothic short stories and speculative children’s fiction, exploring good and evil, death, and modern reinterpretations of fables and mythology. She received her BA from UC Berkeley. Her work has appeared in the Carolina Quarterly and McSweeney's.

Andrea Murphy, Poetry '17 & Creative Nonfiction '18 Andrea Murphy is an English teacher of 15 years, who’s currently on hiatus, and a newbie blogger. If asked what she intends to do with her MFA, she’ll tell you that she intends to enjoy it.

Emily Ratto, Poetry '18 Emily is nurtured by teaching and learning from her students, talking to her succulents, smiling at animals. She writes poetry that edges around the natural world, coming from places of surrealism, intuition, and experience.

Rebecca Samuelson, Poetry '19 Becca is a quiet young woman from Hayward, CA known for secret poems and sweaty palms. She enjoys laughing awkwardly, losing her voice at Giants games, and reading Young Adult novels. She loves making lists and aims to cross become a writer off of it.

Nicholas Stillman, Fiction '18 Nicholas Stillman is a writer of speculative fiction. His work blurs the lines between art, activism, and entertainment by imagining the impact of changing social and environmental forces on vulnerable individuals. Also jokes. Too many jokes, Nick.

Briana Swain, Poetry '18 Briana’s secret elixir for life is the coconut. It keeps her life moisturized, helped her graduate from CSU Sacramento with a BA in Theatre and blesses each and every one of her poems in a sacred coconut water ritual.

Laura Zink, Fiction '18 Laura A. Zink lives in Oakland, California. She is an editor for Oakland Review and the Curator Liaison for Oakland’s free Literary Festival, Beast Crawl.