Maryam Alikhani is a poet and Assistant Professor of English at the County College of Morris. She is a winner of multiple awards for teaching, scholarship, and poetry. Her poems and translations have appeared in many journals and anthologies. She finds inspiration for her works in people she meets and places she travels to.

Mitchell Bauer

Mitchell Bauer is a fourth-year English major and writing studies minor at UC Merced. He is currently the lead copy editor of both The Vernal Pool, UC Merced's undergraduate creative arts journal, and the university's Undergraduate Research Journal. He has previously been published in The Vernal Pool, but he is now seeking publishing opportunities outside the comfort of his campus in order to set himself up for what will hopefully be a worthwhile career in creative writing.

Shriya Bharadwaz

Shriya Bharadwaz studies Musical Theatre at Shenandoah University.  She is in her third year, previously having been published in Avalon. In her free time, she writes, sings, reads, and engages in introspection.

Hadlee Bingham

Hadlee Bingham is a senior Creative Writing major and Entrepreneur minor at Weber State University. Her work has previously appeared in Avalon and Route 7 Review. She finds inspiration for her work in nature and in her family.

Nicklas Bissey

Nicklas Bissey is a Junior Acting major at Shenandoah University. He is incredibly excited to share, what was before, just been an outlet for him. He finds inspiration from the world around him, the people, and the ever-changing philosophy surrounding it all.

Margaret Bynum

Margaret Bynum is a junior at Shenandoah University studying Business Administration. She 

enjoys writing about her personal experiences and the lessons they’ve taught her. Her poem “Big Sisters” reflects on the influence of her two older sisters as she grew up watching them navigate life. Through memories of childhood admiration and the desire to follow in their footsteps, the poem explores how observing their growth helped shape her own path toward independence and self-understanding.

Ivan de Monbrison

Ivan de Monbrison is a bipolar poet and artist from France born in 1969.

David Dephy

David Dephy is an American award-winning poet and novelist. The founder of Poetry Orchestra and American Poetry Intersection. Poet-in-Residence for Brownstone Poets 2024-2025. His poem, “A Sense of Purpose,” is being sent to the Moon by The Lunar Codex, NASA, and Brick Street Poetry in 2025.

Jenna Eckenrod

Jenna Eckenrod is a junior at Shenandoah University majoring in Dance B.F.A. with a double minor in Professional and Technical Writing as well as English. Interested in merging her creative disciplines, she focuses her work on the human experience and how creative endeavors can reach universal audiences. Previously, Jenna has presented dance and written work at the Young Scholars Literary Symposium, as well as had her writing published in Avalon.

Natalie Fountain

Natalie Fountain is a student in Nashville, Tennessee. A hopeful graduate from Belmont University and a soon-to-be occupational therapy student, her first published work will be in Anodyne Magazine. As co-Editor-in-Chief of the 2025 edition of the Belmont Literary Journal, she can be found writing, thinking about writing, or tucked into the couch with her dog, listening to sad music.

Natalie Gales*

Natalie Gales is a junior studying Media & Communication and Spanish at Shenandoah University. Her works have previously been published by Avalon, the Latin American News Digest, and Online Optimism. When she isn't writing, Natalie loves performing with the university marching band, exploring local parks, and reading fantasy novels.

*Natalie's poem "nightstand as self-portrait" received an Honorable Mention in this year's competition for the S. Gordden Link Poetry Award. 

Alex Gamboa

Alex Gamboa is a senior Music Composition major at Shenandoah University.  They are currently working towards a performance certificate as a classical percussionist.  They regularly write poetry and short stories inspired by their own experiences, nature, and those they love.

Jace Gibson*

Jace Gibson is a junior Media Communications and English double major with a double minor in Professional and Popular Writing and Public Relations. Alongside dreams of entering the Public Relations industry, he is also an aspiring fiction writer who takes inspiration from the darker parts of the human psyche.

*Jace's short story "The Cradle" received an Honorable Mention in this year's competition for the Bruce C. Souders Fiction Award.

Maggie Herber

Maggie is an acting major here at Shenco. When she's not on stage, she likes to doodle and write.

Nora Hunter*

Nora Hunter is a graduating Junior English major and Writing Minor. She is President of both SU's Writers' Club and SU's Sigma Tau Delta, English Honor Society chapter. This is Nora's third semester working on Avalon.

*Nora's short story "Calculated Sympathy" was selected as the winner of this year's Bruce C. Souders Fiction Award.

Kylie Malone

Kylie Malone is a sophomore at Shenandoah University, majoring in Biology. While studying the sciences, they are also exploring their passion for creative writing, focusing on the themes of grief and memory.

Sonia Marfatia-Goode

Sonia Marfatia-Goode is a film photographer who enjoys documenting her family's adventures.

Erin Lee Shields

Erin Lee Shields is a senior Acting major and Professional & Popular Writing minor at Shenandoah University. Her work has previously been featured in Avalon, which led her to begin working on the editorial staff for the literary magazine this semester.

Nathan Simmons

Nathan Simmons is a business administration and entrepreneurship student with a passion for creative writing, digital storytelling, and thoughtful design. When he’s not editing videos or crafting social media campaigns, he’s writing poetry that explores themes of identity, memory, and transformation. He’s excited to share his work and hopes it resonates with readers.

Hannelore Tretter

Hannelore Tretter is a junior at the University of Louisville, majoring in mathematics with a minor in finance. Ever since she was little, she’s been fascinated with fairytales and storytelling. She believes there’s something magical in even the most mundane aspects of life and draws inspiration from the world around her.

Katherine Weinhold

Katherine Weinhold is a senior business management and psychology student. She has a deep love of the creative arts, a passion for service, and an infatuation with the night sky. She hopes you enjoy Avalon as much as she has loved working on it!

Lucy Wojciechowski*